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. MISSION INTEGRATION ENGINEER, SPECIAL PROGRAMS As a member of our Mission Management team, you will own the integration of customer payloads onto the SpaceX payload platform from requirements definition through integrated test, flight, and on-orbit operations.
You will work closely with technical disciplines across SpaceX, such as vehicle engineering, structures, avionics, thermal, software, flight reliability, and launch and space operations to close the payload-to-platform interface and to verify the mission can be flown safely. You will be the owner of the payload-to-platform interface: mechanical, electrical, data, and thermal, plus the static, dynamic, thermal, and electromagnetic environments for launch, on-orbit, and re-entry.
You will write and maintain interface control documentation, allocate and verify requirements, run interface trades, and drive non-compliances to a technical disposition (redesign, waiver, or operational constraint). You will plan and execute integration and test, including mate/demate, interface checkout, and end-to-end mission timeline verification. The work is mission and interface engineering applied to an externally built space vehicle on a SpaceX host.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is hungry to do work that matters, and is a quick-learner. RESPONSIBILITIES: Own the payload-to-platform ICD: define, baseline, and configuration-control mechanical, electrical, data, and thermal interfaces Allocate customer and vehicle requirements to the interface; maintain traceability through analysis, test, and inspection Evaluate payload design against platform constraints and environments (static, dynamic, thermal, electromagnetic) for launch, on-orbit, and re-entry Lead interface trades (mass, volume, keep-out, loads, power, thermal, EMI/EMC, timeline) and document the technical basis Disposition interface non-compliances with engineering: waiver, redesign, or operational constraint, including work-around plans where required Define and support integrated test: interface checkout, EGSE, mate/demate, environmental test correlation, and end-to-end mission timeline Build and maintain the integrated mission CONOPs (on-orbit operations) with payload, vehicle, and operations teams Identify technical risk at the payload–platform boundary, including Do No Harm to the vehicle and to co-manifested payloads; drive mitigations to closure Support design reviews, test readiness, and flight readiness with evidence of interface compliance—not as a customer-facing facilitator, as the responsible engineer for the interface Communicate interface status, open items, and technical decisions to payload providers and internal engineering teams BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or STEM discipline Ability to obtain a Top Secret SCI clearance Experience applying systems engineering methods (requirements, interfaces, verification, or integration and test) Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance 1+ years of spacecraft, launch vehicle, or payload integration / systems engineering experience Master’s degree in an engineering discipline Hands-on experience with ICD development, requirements verification, or integrated test Familiarity with launch and on-orbit environments (coupled loads, shock, vibe, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC) Familiarity with USG processes and systems Ability to close technical trades across multiple engineering organizations under schedule pressure Ability to quickly adapt and change course in a fast-paced environment ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires successfully ob