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Ground Systems Engineer, Asset Engineering

Join SpaceX as a Ground Systems Engineer to design and sustain high-pressure infrastructure for the Starship program.

Location
Hawthorne, CA, United States
Compensation
$105k–$170k/yr
Level
mid
Type
full time

Posted by employer 1 day ago

First seen on Joblaze 20 hours ago

Last verified on the company career page 20 hours ago

What you'll build

  • Design and sustain fluids ground systems
  • Analyze and document production systems
  • Manage interdisciplinary teams for engineering projects
  • Implement fluids system upgrades
  • Provide day-to-day ground systems support

Must have

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or aerospace engineering
  • Experience with fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and/or process engineering

Nice to have

  • Advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience with cryogenic fluid systems
  • Experience using and troubleshooting control systems
  • PLC programming experience – Siemens preferred
  • Experience using CAD capability for 3D modeling

Practical constraints

  • General physical fitness required
  • Schedule varies depending on site operational needs

Requirements

Experience
5+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree

Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement, visa sponsorship.

Benefits

401k Match Paid Vacation Paid Sick Leave Equity/Stock Options Paid Holidays Health Insurance Parental Leave

Joblaze summary

In the role of Ground Systems Engineer at SpaceX, the individual will focus on the design, integration, and maintenance of cryogenic and high-pressure fluid systems essential for testing the Starship vehicle. Key skills include expertise in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and experience with control systems, particularly in high-pressure environments. This position is suited for candidates with a strong engineering background and at least five years of hands-on experience in fluid systems, ideally within the aerospace sector. The role involves collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and requires adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed today — first seen on Joblaze November 6, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page November 6, 2026.
  • Salary band is below the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$128,000).
  • Starts above 63% of 63 comparable mid other roles in United States that list Mechanical Engineering we track (median $100,000 across 14 companies). See Mechanical Engineering salary trends
  • Mechanical Engineering appears in 4.3% of 3409 comparable mid other roles in United States; Process Engineering appears in 0.2% of 3409 comparable mid other roles in United States.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?
SpaceX lists $105,000–$170,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?
At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Ground Systems Engineer, Asset Engineering role.
What's the tech stack?
Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Aerospace Engineering, CAD, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, NX, PLC programming.
What seniority level is this role?
SpaceX targets mid-level candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Ground Systems Engineer, Asset Engineering role at SpaceX.

From the original posting

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.

GROUND SYSTEMS ENGINEER, ASSET ENGINEERING

Building a performance defining vehicle like Starship requires immense amounts of prop system production, acceptance, and qualification testing. These campaigns not only look to test component level hardware in-flight like conditions, but they require large and thought through supply systems to get them what they need, and without fail.

As a ground systems engineer you will be directly responsible for the design, build, integration, and sustainment of system-level cryogenic and high pressure infrastructure across programs. These systems require precise capacity analysis, robust operational design, and are calculated to sustain high energy and high-volume test campaigns with little to no interruption.


RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Serve as the responsible engineer for one or multiple fluids ground systems including compressible, incompressible, and/or cryogenic fluid systems.
  • Use knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluids dynamics, controls, and instrumentation to analyze, design and document new and existing production systems.
  • Manage interdisciplinary teams to design, build, activate, and maintain fluids engineering projects from requirements definition through obsolescence.
  • Identify, design, and implement fluids system upgrades, including changes to components, system, software, and process – driving continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with and develop relationships with production/build teams to anticipate fluids system needs and provide recommendations on process design for manufacturability.
  • Work alongside and assist a skilled technician workforce in providing day-to-day ground systems support including testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and upgrades.
  • Provide expertise, insight, and recommendations on pressurized components and safe operation of pressure systems to multiple teams across the company.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or aerospace engineering
  • Experience with fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and/or process engineering

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Strong desire and ability to learn quickly, adapt and innovate
  • Advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience working with cryogenic fluid systems in a professional setting or outside the classroom project team
  • Demonstrated expertise designing and operating fluid systems
  • Experience using and troubleshooting control systems for remote operations and instrumentation feedback
  • Experience testing and operating with or around hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, hazardous gases & fluids, etc.
  • PLC programming experience – Siemens preferred
  • Experience using CAD capability for 3D modeling (NX, SolidWorks)
  • Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and manager
  • Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure, fast paced environment
  • Self-motivated and directed with keen attention to detail
  • Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight
  • Demonstrated ability to lead a multidisciplinary team of technicians and engineers

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • General physical fitness is required for some work areas, hardware typically is built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required, also the ability to lift heavy objects >25lbs
  • Schedule varies depending on site operational needs, flexibility required
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $105,000.00 - $140,000.00
Level 2: $120,000.00 - $170,000.00

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.

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