Lead EHS Engineer, Fire Safety & Emergency Response

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 fire safety engineering for Starship and Dragon, shaping team execution and standards. Decisions you make directly influence crew safety during testing and flight operations. You will drive prevention, readiness, and disciplined response across demanding aerospace environments in accordance with that mission. You will translate complex hazards into clear, actionable procedures for teams, ensuring that life-safety logic is integrated from the earliest concept phases. You own the performance metrics that turn data into actions strengthening fire safety and response maturity across operations. This position requires a leader who can champion safety-in-design and multi-disciplinary reviews to align engineering, operations, and safety on critical fire protection measures.

Key facts

What you'll do

Design fire safety controls for spacecraft modules and ground infrastructure during early concept phases, integrating life-safety logic from the start. Champion risk assessment and emergency response planning, translating complex hazards into clear, actionable procedures for teams. Guide inspection and testing programs for fire systems, ensuring rigorous compliance and reliability for flight hardware and facilities. Steer multi-disciplinary reviews, aligning engineering, operations, and safety on critical fire protection measures and execution standards. Champion safety-in-design requirements, embedding life-safety principles into equipment, facility, and process decisions. Own performance metrics, turning data into actions that strengthen fire safety and response maturity across operations. Oversee training and drills, building team capability for rapid, effective emergency response in aerospace contexts. Audit compliance, verify standards, and safeguard operations against fire risk across facilities and vehicles used in exploration. Drive the development and implementation of inspection strategies for fire system reliability across critical aerospace operations. Act as the technical authority interpreting fire codes, regulations, and standards for spacecraft and facility environments. Facilitate cross-functional coordination to ensure emergency response planning is practical and aligned with mission constraints. Define and track safety metrics to identify trends and drive continuous improvement in fire protection engineering.

Requirements

You hold a Bachelor's degree and bring 5+ years of experience overseeing environmental, health, and safety programs with an emphasis on fire safety engineering and emergency response. You offer 3+ years of leadership experience managing technical and engineering teams while applying fire protection engineering and emergency response expertise. You interpret fire codes, regulations, and standards, and apply this knowledge to conduct risk assessments and guide controls for spacecraft and facility operations. You lead inspection and testing programs, ensuring fire protection and life-safety systems protect people and hardware during demanding missions. You communicate clearly, translating technical guidance into practical actions for engineers and operations partners in high-stakes environments. You demonstrate ownership of complex safety challenges, balancing regulatory compliance with operational realities in aerospace settings. You apply structured problem-solving to fire safety engineering, using data to inform decisions and improve system reliability.

Nice to have

Background in high-risk or complex industrial settings with multi-site safety and emergency programs is valued. Demonstrated experience with process hazard analysis, fire system design, and inspection strategies for critical operations is preferred. A Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, Emergency Management, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field is encouraged, with emphasis in fire protection or emergency response.

Practical notes

This position operates within the mission and regulatory context described in the source materials. The role is full-time and based in Bastrop, Texas, with compensation in the range of $143,200.00 to $179,000.00 per year. No additional information regarding hours, travel, visa, or deadlines is provided in the source materials.