Sr. Critical Lift & Transport Engineer (Falcon)

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. SR. CRITICAL LIFT TRANSPORT ENGINEER (FALCON) SpaceX is currently seeking an individual to join the launch site engineering team in Vandenberg, CA. Specifically, you will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of critical transport and lift operations for our Falcon vehicles and ground support equipment have been properly designed, reviewed, and carried out. You will be responsible for addressing structural, civil, and mechanical issues that arise and utilizing engineering intuition as well as thorough calculation to provide engineering disposition for the path forward. This role requires advanced technical expertise, leadership, and coordination across multiple teams to ensure mission-critical operations are executed flawlessly. SpaceX doesn’t shut down production for maintenance, and instead, we find ways to predict failures and perform the maintenance without interrupting production. RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead the planning, analysis, and execution of complex critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for large-scale hardware at sea and on land (e.g., rocket stages, ground support equipment, or structural components), ensuring compliance with safety standards, regulations (e.g. OSHA, ASME B30, AFSPCMAN 91-710), internal requirements, and engineering best practices 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 Develop critical lift plans, rigging designs, and transport configurations using computational tools and center-of-gravity calculations Coordinate with cross-functional teams (e.g., vehicle analysis, launch ops, logistics, recovery vessels) to assess hardware mass properties, rigging/lashing connection locations, structural capability, stability, and load paths during lifts and transports Develop basic and complex rework work order dispositions for maintenance procedures, emergency procedures, and equipment upgrades, including custom hardware installs without design references on self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), diesel engines, conventional hydraulic trailers, and crane rigging hardware Conduct and communicate requirements, risk assessments, hazard analyses, and fatigue/stress analyses for transport and lifts Oversee on-site operations, including pre-lift dry runs, real-time monitoring, and post-operation debriefs Interface with external vendors for specialized equipment rentals and oversee contracted operations involving cranes, rigging, hydraulic trailers, and marine transport Maintain documentation, including engineering calculations, drawings, and reports for regulatory audits and lessons learned Support off-hour operations as needed, including real-time troubleshooting and issue resolution during high-stakes/first-time lifts or transports Drive continuous improvement and development in lift/transport processes, such as streamlining existing workflows and 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. Familiarity with Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) barge operations and working with cargo securing manuals for at-sea o ... (truncated, view full listing at source)