Job brief: Launch Pad Engineer, Fluid Systems (Falcon 9)

What JoRoute checked · Checked by JoRoute

• Listed on SpaceX's own job board. JoRoute does not take listings from job ads or recruiters.
• First seen by JoRoute 2026-11-04 (5 days ago); last confirmed on the board 2026-11-08.
• The apply link opens boards.greenhouse.io, the address SpaceX's board gives for this job.
• No other listing with this title and place on this board in the last 90 days.
• No layoff notices (WARN) under this name in the state files JoRoute reads.

What the listing says · Employer's own words, not checked

• Pay: $100,000 to $140,000 a year
• Job type: Not stated
• Where: Vandenberg, CA
• Posted: 2026-10-30

What the job asks · Employer's own words, not checked

Level: Entry level. The posting asks for 1+ years of experience.

Must have

• Represent SpaceX by presenting certification packages and engineering data to U.S. government agencies including NASA, US Space Force and others
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of professional experience working with fluid, mechanical, or low voltage electrical systems
• Occasional travel may be required
• Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S.
• § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S.

Conditions

• Responsible for covering one weekend shift per month
• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral
• Physical effort including standing, lifting and carrying moderately heavy materials or equipment (15 to 35 lbs.)
• Ability to be flexible on shifts

Main duties

• Serve as the responsible engineer for one or multiple launch pad fluid systems including compressible, incompressible, and/or cryogenic fluid systems
• Utilize knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, controls, and instrumentation to troubleshoot issues present in various launch pad systems
• Work with, and direct, a skilled technician workforce to carry out design, build, troubleshooting, maintenance activities, upgrades, and operational procedures
• Contribute to the development and improvement of the functional automation relating to the fluid system(s) for which you are responsible
• Identify and implement upgrades to launch pad hardware, software, and procedures – drive continuous improvement in these areas by interfacing regularly with …

Lines copied from the posting, not rewritten. "Preferred" or "nice to have" items are not listed as must-haves.

How it compares · Compared by JoRoute from listings

• Typical listed pay for engineer jobs across the U.S.: $140k a year (3,294 listings, 146 employers). This listing is 14% lower.
• Across SpaceX's 2,900 open listings, 60% of those with a posting date were first posted more than 60 days ago. How SpaceX hires

What nobody outside the employer knows · Not known

• Whether the role is already filled or on hold: employers often leave listings up.
• How many people applied, and who reads the applications.
• Where in the published range an offer would land.

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