Sr. Critical Lift & Transport Engineer (Starship)

About the role

SpaceX is currently seeking an individual to join the launch site engineering team in Starbase, TX. As a member of this team, you will have the opportunity to utilize your multi-disciplinary knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop solutions to launch pad operations, ground support equipment, transportation and production with the goal of maximizing efficiency without sacrificing safety or reliability.

Specifically, you will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of critical transport and lift operations for our Starship and Super Heavy booster vehicles, as well as ground support equipment, have been properly designed, reviewed, and carried out. You will be responsible for addressing complex structural, civil and mechanical issues that arise and utilizing engineering intuition as well as thorough calculation to provide engineering disposition for path forward.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, analysis, and execution of complex critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for hardware >100 tons (e.g. rocket stages, ground support equipment, or test articles), ensuring zero-incident compliance with safety standards, regulations (e.g., OSHA, ASME B30), and mission-critical timelines.
• Develop advanced lift plans, rigging designs, and multi-modal transport strategies using tools like FEA, CAD, simulations, wind/load interaction analysis, and risk assessments.
• Serve as a primary technical authority, coordinating with leadership across structures, manufacturing, launch operations, and supply chain teams to integrate lift/transport operations into program-level plans and schedules.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (e.g., vehicle structures, manufacturing, launch ops, logistics) to assess hardware mass properties, rigging/lashing connection locations, structural capability, stability, and load paths during lifts and transports.
• Specify, procure, qualify, and oversee deployment of specialized equipment fleets (e.g., crawler cranes, SPMTs, hydraulic jacks and gantries), including custom integrations; lead equipment failure mode analyses and vendor qualification processes.
• Supervise on-site execution teams, conduct pre-lift dry runs, anomaly resolution under pressure, and post-operation root-cause debrief and analysis to inform fleet-wide improvements.
• Conduct risk assessments, hazard analyses, and fatigue/stress analyses for lifts exceeding standard capacities.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with external partners for global heavy-lift and transport services and emergency response capabilities.
• Author and maintain engineering standards, lift/transport work orders, and digital libraries for company-wide knowledge transfer.
• Maintain documentation, including engineering calculations, drawings, and reports for regulatory audits and lessons learned.
• Strong communication skills for presenting complex plans to leadership, mentoring junior staff, and leading cross-discipline training programs.
• Support off-hour operations as needed, including real-time troubleshooting and issue resolution during high-visibility/first-time lift or transport operations.
• Drive continuous improvement and development in lift/transport processes, such as adopting new technologies.
• Represent SpaceX by presenting certification packages and engineering data to US government agencies, including NASA, US Space Force and others

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience working with mechanical and structural hardware.
• 2+ years of experience with crane lifting, crane rigging or crane transport operations.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 7+ years of experience in critical heavy lifts, rigging engineering, and heavy transport in aerospace, energy, defense, or construction sectors.
• Experience prioritizing and executing tasks in high-pressure, fast paced industrial environments while operating with or around hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, hazardous gases & fluids, etc.).
• Experience using SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, or similar CAD software.
• Advanced proficiency in engineering analysis software (e.g. ANSYS, FEMAP or similar finite element analysis software) for static/dynamic load modeling.
• Strong understanding of mechanics, including statics, dynamics, materials science, and failure modes.
• Expertise in specialized equipment like crawler cranes, all-terrain cranes, SPMTs, jacks, and gantries.
• Professional certifications such as crane operator + rigger (NCCCO + NCCER) or Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Knowledge of SpaceX-specific or similar hardware (e.g., Falcon/Starship transport logistics).
• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline or related advanced training.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work weekends and night shifts as needed.
• Must be willing to travel to other launch sites in support of operational activities and launches; travel requirement is up to 25%.
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position.

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.