Construction Safety Engineer

About the role

As part of a team of technicians and engineers, you will provide technical expertise and assist in the implementation of all Environmental, Health and Safety programs at the McGregor, TX rocket-engine test site. The ideal candidate is highly skilled in both environmental and occupational safety, is hands-on in a high-energy test environment, and can manage contractor and contingent-labor EHS with the same rigor as employee programs. We work as a highly integrated team and job responsibilities will include helping other programs to ensure the overall success of SpaceX.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with test engineers, stand crews, and technician teams to perform detailed safety reviews of complex hazardous operations (hot fire, propellant loading, pressurization, ordnance, cryogenics, and post-test recovery) to ensure safe execution.
• Lead or assist in all aspects of incident investigations, including initial follow-up, root cause analysis, and corrective action development and closure; enter events in Safety Net and drive closure with operations leadership.
• Collaborate with department leadership to complete job hazard assessments and implement health and safety policies and procedures for Merlin, Raptor, fabrication, civil/construction, and support shops.
• Implement and develop safety and health programs including but not limited to OSHA general industry and construction standards; HAZCOM, hazmat, cryogenics, compressed gases, and rocket propellants (LOX, RP-1, methane); confined space, fall protection, lock-out/tag-out, hot work, and fire watch; powered industrial trucks, aerial lifts, cranes/rigging, and heavy equipment; and radiation and laser safety as applicable to test and shop operations.
• Develop safety solutions that resolve EHS hazards/concerns within cost and schedule constraints following a safety order of precedence to include elimination, substitution, engineering controls, work practice controls, training, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure that safety of personnel, property, and the environment are within acceptable risk boundaries.
• Monitor employee and non-employee worker exposure to physical and chemical hazards; recommend and implement controls to eliminate exposure.
• Inspect facilities, test stands, machinery, and safety equipment in order to identify and correct potential hazards and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Develop, implement and maintain safety contingency plans (fires, spills, lightning/range clear, test abort, etc.) and confirm contractors and contingent workers are included in those plans.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable regulations established by OSHA, EPA, CERCLA, RCRA, DOT, ATF, TCEQ, TRRC, NFPA, NIOSH and other applicable regulatory agencies.
• Perform environmental compliance and due diligence audits to ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies.
• Own McGregor implementation of the Contractor EHS Management Program for vendor-supervised contractors and subcontractors (construction, civil, specialty trades, field service), including company safety-critical qualification, purchase-order safety-critical work selection, worker guidelines, site orientation, job hazard assessments / site-specific safety plans, audits, and violation tracking.
• Own McGregor implementation of employee-equivalent EHS training for SpaceX-supervised contingent labor (staffing-agency workers directed by SpaceX), using the same Learning courses and Personnel Qualifications skills as the equivalent employee role rather than contractor-only site awareness.
• Classify incoming non-employee labor (vendor contractor vs. contingent worker vs. visitor) with the SpaceX designated person, Security, Purchasing, and HR so the correct EHS path is used.
• Build and maintain a McGregor roster of on-site contractors and contingent workers joined to training and qualification status; do not permit unsupervised hazardous work (height, LOTO, confined space, hot work, powered industrial trucks / aerial lifts, crane, respirator) until the matching employee or contractor control is complete.
• Stand up and instruct live and site EHS orientation and practicals used at McGregor (confined space, LOTO, fall protection, hot work / fire watch, boom and scissor lift, respirators), including enrollment of contingent workers onto the employee path and contractors onto the contractor path.
• Partner with test, facilities, civil/construction, and trade supervisors so pre-mobilization packages (site-specific safety plan, JHA, proof of training, rescue plans, equipment) are complete before contractor work starts, and so contingent workers are on SpaceX JHAs for the crew they join.
• Investigate contractor and contingent-worker incidents; determine host-employer OSHA recordability when SpaceX directs the work; issue findings to the labor supplier or contracting company and to Purchasing as required.
• Report McGregor contractor and contingent-labor leading and lagging indicators (orientation completion, overdue qualifications, audit findings, Safety Net events) to site EHS leadership.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• 3+ years of experience in the design, development and operational oversight of environmental, health and safety disciplines (student project team or internship experience qualifies); OR a master's degree.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, occupational health and safety, environmental science, or a related technical field.
• Direct experience managing on-site contractors, construction EHS, and/or contingent / staffing-agency labor (qualification, orientation, audits, and incident investigation).
• Working knowledge of OSHA 1910 and 1926, host-employer / dual-employer duties, and distinguishing vendor-supervised contractors from SpaceX-supervised contingent labor.
• Strong knowledge of process safety management methods and best practices with pressure systems, cryogenics, and chemical processes.
• Experience in engine/propulsion test, aerospace, manufacturing, chemical, or similar high-hazard industrial environments.
• Demonstrated ability to research and apply the best industrial and working practices to provide effective services.
• Strong understanding of industrial hygiene programs including respiratory protection, hearing conservation, ergonomics, and chemical exposure prevention.
• Strong knowledge and experience in interpreting, applying and documenting federal, Texas, and local safety and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, TCEQ, TRRC, ATF, DOT).
• Experience with emergency response communication and incident management in incidents involving hazardous and non-hazardous material releases to air, soil, and water.
• Familiarity with learning management and qualification systems (Personnel Qualifications, Safety Net, JHA) or equivalent.
• Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to stop work and influence test, construction, and trade leadership.
• ASP, CSP, CIH, CHMM, or similar credential; OSHA 30 General Industry and/or Construction.

Additional Requirements

• This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the McGregor, TX area.
• Position occasionally requires the ability to work extended hours, nights, and weekends when needed to support test operations and contractor mobilization.
• Must be able to work in outdoor test-stand and construction environments, including heat, noise, and elevated work, with required PPE.

Itar Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.