---
title: 'Fluids Engineer, Launch Hardware Engineering at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/fluids-engineer-launch-hardware-engineering-spacex-cape-canaveral-vt5ntd043aeh'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Fluids Engineer, Launch Hardware Engineering at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Cape Canaveral, FL
- **Posted:** 2026-09-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8779782002?gh_jid=8779782002

## Job description

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.

## FLUIDS ENGINEER, LAUNCH HARDWARE ENGINEERING

The Launch Hardware Engineering team is seeking a talented Fluids Engineer where you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to rapidly design, build, and activate fluid systems supporting launch pads, landing facilities, test sites, production facilities and other locations as required.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Design, build, and activate cryogenic, high pressure, oxygen-clean, hydraulic, or other fluid systems to support the launch and processing of Starship and Superheavy Booster
- Utilize knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid flow, and control theory to design and analyze launch and production fluids systems
- Model piping assemblies using CAD software and perform piping stress analysis
- Read and develop detailed piping and instrumentation diagrams of complex fluids systems
- Select components, such as valves, pumps, piping, tanks, and filters, and provide detailed specifications for their purchase
- Coordinate with engineers from other disciplines (civil, structural, electrical, controls, etc) to establish a complete system design
- Manage the fabrication and installation of fluid systems and other construction projects occurring at the launch and test sites, hands-on in the field, alongside skilled technician teams
- Perform planning, analysis, and troubleshooting of system performance during real-time activation operations and post-test data reviews
- Work closely with operations teams to ensure system design is well-understood and easy to operate long term
- Provide innovative solutions to problems under minimal supervision or direction

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with fluid systems or process engineering

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Master’s 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 in the design, build, and operation of pressurized fluid systems per ASME B31, ASME B&PV Code Section VIII, AFSPCMAN 91-710, or other applicable standards
- Experience using Siemens NX, SOLIDWORKS, or similar CAD software
- Experience using CAESAR II or similar pipe stress analysis programs
- Experience using python or other programming languages for data review and analysis
- Familiarity with Fluids fittings and specifications (AN/AS)
- Familiarity with instrumentation selection in severe service
- Experience operating and troubleshooting control systems required for remote operations
- Excellent written and oral communication, especially translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences
- Ability to work with and lead technicians during fabrication and commissioning of systems
- Familiarity with Root-Cause Analysis and Risk Mitigation process
- Adaptability to change in direction of projects

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
- Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX locations as necessary
- Schedules vary due to site operational needs - flexibility is required
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted
- 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](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987).

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.

## About SpaceX

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft while building a global satellite broadband network and AI infrastructure to enable interplanetary life.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: SPCX) – IPO priced at $135/share on June 12, 2026
- **Headquarters**: Starbase, Texas (primary); Hawthorne, California (historical headquarters)
- **Founded**: 2002
- **Founders**: Elon Musk

## Core Business
- **Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Spaceflight, Satellite Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence
- **Target Customers**: Government (NASA, U.S. Armed Forces, international agencies), Commercial satellite operators, Broadband consumers (Starlink), Defense/intelligence (Starshield)
- **Mission**: To make humanity multiplanetary by building the integrated hardware and software infrastructure of the future across space, connectivity, and AI.

## Products & Services
- **Falcon 9**: Reusable two-stage rocket – the world’s most launched orbital rocket, with over 630 successful first-stage reflights.
- **Falcon Heavy**: Heavy-lift launch vehicle composed of three Falcon 9 cores; capable of lifting nearly 64 metric tons to orbit.
- **Starship**: Fully reusable super-heavy launch vehicle and spacecraft (largest ever built) designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- **Dragon 2**: Crew and cargo spacecraft used for NASA Commercial Crew and private missions to the ISS and beyond.
- **Starlink**: Low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to over 10.3 million people globally.
- **Starshield**: Military-grade satellite services for national security and defense customers.
- **SpaceXAI**: Division focused on AI compute infrastructure, frontier models, and real-time data processing (including AI compute satellites).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Conflicting reports – Internal share offer in 2025 valued SpaceX at **$800 billion**; IPO pricing (June 2026) implied a market capitalization of approximately **$75 billion** for the shares offered.
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of **$15.0 billion** (2025); total funding raised **$15.2 billion** across 56 rounds.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Google (led $1B Series G), Intesa Sanpaolo, NASA, U.S. Space Force, and numerous institutional investors.
- **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount of **11,387** (monthly growth +2.5%); **1,671 active job postings**; Falcon 9 launch cadence of 1–3 per week; Starlink subscriber base covering ~10.3 million people; recent acquisition of xAI (February 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full reusability**: Only company with a fleet of reusable orbital rockets (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy), dramatically lowering per-launch cost.
- **Vertical integration**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own rockets, spacecraft, satellite constellation, and AI platform – enabling rapid iteration and cost control.
- **Scale and reliability**: More orbital launches per year than any other provider (public or private); proven track record with NASA and DoD.
- **First-mover in commercial spaceflight**: Established crew transport, satellite internet, and now AI compute in orbit.

## Strategic Focus
- **Starship development**: Complete testing and operational deployment of the fully reusable Starship system for lunar (Artemis) and Mars missions.
- **Starlink expansion**: Grow subscriber base, launch V3 satellites, and extend mobile and direct-to-cell services.
- **AI integration**: Leverage SpaceXAI for on-orbit compute and real-time data analytics; build AI compute satellites.
- **Interplanetary infrastructure**: Develop technologies for sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Employees directly contribute to making life multiplanetary – “hard work and innovative solutions result in big gains.”
- **Impactful projects**: Work on reusable rockets, crewed spacecraft, global broadband, and AI systems that are actively changing the space industry.
- **Compensation**: Competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and equity packages.
- **Work locations**: Primary campuses in Hawthorne, CA and Starbase, TX (with additional sites in Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg, CA). Roles span engineering, software, manufacturing, and support.
- **Engineering culture**: Merit-based, fast-paced, with high ownership; top talent sourced from Tesla, Boeing, NASA JPL, and other aerospace leaders.
- **Open roles**: Over 1,600 active positions across software, AI, avionics, propulsion, supply chain, and more – including internships.

## Sources
1. [SpaceX Careers Page](https://www.spacex.com/careers)
2. [LinkedIn – SpaceX Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacex)
3. [SpaceX IPO Factsheet (PDF)](https://content.spacex.com/cms-assets/FINAL_Documents%20and%20Updates/SpaceX%20IPO_Factsheet.pdf)
4. [SpaceX IPO Pricing Press Release](https://ir.spacex.com/updates/releases-details/2026/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp--Announces-Pricing-of-Initial-Public-Offering/default.aspx)
5. [SpaceX Jobs Board (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/spacex)

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