Lead Environmental Health & Safety Engineer, Safety Engineering

About the role

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. This role owns the leadership and daily management of the Safety Engineering team, directing Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics, Equipment Safety, and Process Safety initiatives. The hire will develop practical, engineering-based solutions that improve workplace safety, reduce incident and exposure rates, and drive cross-functional engagement across the EHS program. You will review and interpret new and proposed safety rules, regulations, and standards, providing clear technical guidance to management and engineering teams. The position involves holding routine multi-disciplinary Safety Engineering reviews and steering meetings to drive execution of EHS performance across respective disciplines. You will perform safety engineering compliance audits, risk assessments, industrial hygiene surveys, ergonomic evaluations, equipment safety reviews, and process safety analyses. This role will lead the development and implementation of safety-in-design specifications and requirements for existing and future equipment. You will collaborate with engineering, operations, purchasing, and project leadership to proactively ensure SpaceX safety engineering requirements are met and built-in to company processes.

Key facts

What you'll do

Provide leadership and manage the day-to-day activities, priorities, and performance of the EHS Safety Engineering team, including performance management and hiring processes.

Oversee operational budgets for Safety Engineering programs across Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics, Equipment Safety, and Process Safety functions.

Develop practical, engineering-based solutions that improve workplace safety, reduce incident and exposure rates, drive cross-functional engagement, and advance the overall EHS program.

Review and interpret new and proposed safety rules, regulations, and standards and provide clear technical guidance to management and engineering teams.

Provide training, coaching, and technical guidance to direct reports and stakeholders on industrial hygiene assessments, ergonomic risk evaluations, equipment safety reviews, process hazard analyses (PHAs), job hazard analyses (JHAs), safe work procedures, permits to work, and other key risk management and engineering control tools.

Hold routine multi-disciplinary Safety Engineering reviews and steering meetings to drive execution of EHS performance across respective disciplines.

Perform safety engineering compliance audits, risk assessments, industrial hygiene surveys, ergonomic evaluations, equipment safety reviews, and process safety analyses; collaborate with engineering, operations, purchasing, and project leadership to proactively ensure SpaceX safety engineering requirements are met and built-in to company processes.

Lead the development and implementation of safety-in-design specifications and requirements for existing and future equipment, ensuring risk assessment principles are integrated throughout the equipment lifecycle.

Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex safety challenges and develop effective controls that mitigate risk in high-tech manufacturing and operational environments.

Champion continuous improvement by identifying trends in incidents and exposures, driving corrective actions, and implementing preventative measures across safety engineering disciplines.

Partner with cross-functional teams to align safety strategies with project schedules, production goals, and regulatory expectations while maintaining a strong focus on engineering controls.

Utilize advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) to analyze data, prepare technical reports, and present findings to leadership and stakeholders.

Support the establishment and maintenance of professional certifications and standards compliance, including CSP, CIH, CPE, and other relevant credentials.

Act as a subject matter expert to advise on industrial hygiene monitoring, ergonomic risk mitigation, equipment guarding, process hazard analysis (PHA/HAZOP), and other engineering control strategies.

Requirements

Must hold a Bachelor's degree.

Possess 5+ years of experience in the design, development, and operational oversight of environmental, health, and safety programs with an emphasis on safety engineering disciplines.

Have 3+ years of leadership experience managing technical/engineering teams.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field is required.

Demonstrate strong organizational and communication skills with a clear aptitude and desire to lead people and technical teams.

Hands-on experience leading multi-site or multi-discipline safety engineering programs in high-risk or complex industrial/manufacturing environments is mandatory.

Able to review engineering drawings, assess safety-in-design opportunities, and lead technical risk engineering solutions.

Strong knowledge and experience interpreting, applying, and documenting federal, state, and local occupational safety and health regulations and standards (OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, RIA, etc.) is required.

Experience with industrial hygiene monitoring and control strategies, ergonomic risk assessment and intervention, equipment/machine guarding and safety systems, process hazard analysis (PHA/HAZOP), and related engineering controls is required.

Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) is required.

Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CPE, or equivalent are preferred.

Must be able to work extended hours, weekends, and travel to operational and manufacturing sites as needed.

Must be able to work in industrial/manufacturing environments and wear required personal protective equipment.

This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Bastrop, TX area.

Nice to have

Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CPE, or equivalent preferred.

Practical notes

This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Bastrop, TX area.

You must be able to work extended hours, weekends, and travel to operational and manufacturing sites as needed.

You must be able to work in industrial/manufacturing environments and wear required personal protective equipment.