Mechanical Engineer

About the role

SpaceX is on the lookout for a Mechanical Engineer who will take charge of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems within our data center infrastructure. This position involves overseeing the entire lifecycle of cooling and fluid systems, requiring a balance between high-level design assessments and practical, hands-on tasks within mechanical rooms.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and specify the cooling infrastructure, which includes designing chilled water plants, air handling units, and cooling towers to ensure efficient thermal management.
• Lead the design of plumbing systems, focusing on sanitary systems, storm drainage, domestic water, and process piping to support operational needs.
• Assess and select liquid cooling solutions, including immersion cooling, rear-door heat exchangers, and direct-to-chip systems, to optimize performance.
• Conduct calculations for heat loads, model airflow dynamics, and strategize capacity planning to align with facility specifications.
• Execute hydraulic calculations, determine pump sizes, and design piping systems for both condenser and chilled water loops to ensure system efficiency.
• Collaborate with various teams, including electrical, structural, fire protection, and architectural, to ensure cohesive mechanical and plumbing drawings.
• Supervise commissioning processes, which encompass integrated systems testing and functional performance evaluations to verify system integrity.
• Work closely with equipment suppliers to establish technical specifications and participate in factory witness testing to ensure compliance with design standards.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges such as pump cavitation, water treatment issues, control valve malfunctions, and capacity deficiencies.
• Perform technical assessments for potential new site locations, focusing on mechanical infrastructure and the availability of water resources.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline is essential.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in mechanical or plumbing design, specifically within data centers, mission-critical facilities, or industrial settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing cooling systems tailored for high-demand environments.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic systems and the ability to perform complex calculations related to heat loads and fluid dynamics.
• Proven experience in coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to produce comprehensive mechanical and plumbing documentation.
• Familiarity with commissioning processes and the ability to oversee testing and validation of mechanical systems.

Nice to have

• Advanced knowledge of hydronic system design and HVAC principles would be advantageous.
• Experience in interpreting and creating P&IDs, construction documents, and equipment schedules is a plus.
• Background in hyperscale or colocation data center operations, providing insights into industry best practices.
• Understanding of ASHRAE TC9.9 guidelines and Uptime Institute Tier standards to ensure compliance with industry benchmarks.
• Knowledge of relevant plumbing codes such as NFPA, ASHRAE 90.1, and IPC/UPC would be beneficial.
• Experience with water treatment processes for evaporative cooling systems is desirable.
• Familiarity with collaborating with controls and electrical engineers on Building Management System (BMS) and Energy Management System (EPMS) integration.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in mechanical and plumbing design principles.
• Extensive knowledge of data center cooling infrastructure and its operational requirements.
• Skilled in performing hydraulic and heat load calculations to optimize system performance.
• Experience in commissioning and systems testing to ensure operational readiness.

Practical notes

• Candidates must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees to comply with ITAR regulations.
• The role may require extended hours and weekend work based on operational needs, so flexibility is essential.
• Willingness to travel to various job sites for construction oversight, commissioning activities, and other critical events is necessary.
• SpaceX is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.