Skip to content

Mechanical

Thermal Engineer, Thermal & Fluid Analysis (Starship)

SpaceX logoSpaceX~$120k–$190k/yrtypicalStarbase, TXPosted 5mo ago
  • US citizenship
  • ITAR / US person

How this pay compares

This posting does not state its pay. Open mechanical engineer jobs in Texas post a median of $132k a year, the middle half $101k–$168k, across 10 jobs that state their pay.

Mechanical engineers in Texas: pay by town and employer

About the job

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. ## THERMAL ENGINEER, THERMAL & FLUID ANALYSIS (STARSHIP) As a Thermal Engineer on the Starship Thermal & Fluids analysis team, you are responsible for the thermal design, test, and validation of vehicles and hardware.

You will make engineering decisions to improve vehicle performance and reliability to help create a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Own thermal design of spacecraft, launch vehicles, and hardware, from initial high-level analysis down to validation of performance with ground tests, flight, and orbital data. - Automate workflow above to reduce engineering investment in per-mission analysis. - Pursue performance/robustness improvements. - Pursue operational simplicity and seek to reduce burden on other groups at SpaceX. - Produce quality documentation of your work to reduce miss-rate and improve efficiency. - Review peer work. ## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline. - 1+ years of experience using engineering simulation software such as MATLAB (student project team and internship experience qualifies). ## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - Master’s degree in an engineering discipline. - 2+ years professional experience with thermal or fluid analysis. - Strong understanding of spacecraft and/or launch vehicle systems. - Experience with 0-D and 1-D thermal/fluid networks. - Experience with Thermal Desktop and/or ANSYS Workbench. - Working knowledge of scripting languages (specifically Python). - Excellent oral and written communication skills. - Ability to deliver against an aggressive schedule. ## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed. ## 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 .

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com .

From SpaceX's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

  • Sterling EngineeringEngineering and technical staffing agency

    Engineering and technical staffing firm for manufacturers, aerospace suppliers among them.

    Places: Mechanical, Technicians, Quality

  • NESC Staffing (Nesco Resource)Engineering and technical staffing agency

    Engineering and technical staffing firm placing engineers, designers, technicians and manufacturing staff on contract and direct hire.

    Places: Mechanical, Avionics, Systems & Test, Technicians

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New mechanical, structures and thermal engineering jobs in space in Texas, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About SpaceX

Designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.

Pay on its listings: 53.2% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

How it pays: Paid as an employee on SpaceX's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at SpaceX

More mechanical, structures and thermal engineering jobs in space

A mechanical, structures or thermal engineer?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

SpaceX openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from SpaceX's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.