Mechanical Architect & Design Lead, AI Hardware

We are building the future of computing in partnering with SpaceX - a distributed, AI-optimized data center infrastructure operating in space. The terawatts orbital AI data center will be powered by Dojo - our custom supercomputer designed for the neural networks behind SpaceX, xAI, FSD, and Optimus. We are seeking a visionary Mechanical Architect & Design Lead to spearhead the mechanical design, thermal management, and structural integration of our pioneering space-based AI data center project. In this high-impact role, you will transition computing infrastructure from traditional terrestrial environments to orbital platforms, overcoming the challenges of a vacuum environment to deliver sustainable, high-density AI compute. You will lead the design from concept through launch and on-orbit commissioning, focusing on passive and active thermal management, radiation shielding, and structural efficiency for Dojo D3-accelerated high power workloads.

Responsibilities

Architectural Design Lead: Define and evolve the overall mechanical architecture of the orbital data center module, including structures, deployables, and thermal interfaces Thermal Control Strategy: collaborate with thermal team to architect advanced thermal systems (liquid cooling, loop heat pipes, radiator arrays) to reject terawatts of heat into deep space in a vacuum environment where convective cooling is absent High-Density Integration: Design high-density server rack layouts tailored for AI workloads, optimizing for both power efficiency and structural integrity during launch, maximizing compute capacity in a constrained volume Environmental Survivability: Develop and oversee radiation shielding and thermoelastic structural analyses (FEA/CFD) to ensure hardware reliability in harsh space environments, managing thermo-mechanical interfaces Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with electrical power, software, and orbital dynamics teams to create integrated systems, ensuring seamless communication between internal teams and external launch/aerospace vendors Validation & Testing: Lead on-orbit verification planning and oversee ground-based environmental qualification testing (thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC), vibration, and shock testing)

Requirements

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience 10+ years of experience in thermal-mechanical design, with 2+ years focused on satellite structural/thermal design or advanced high-density terrestrial data center cooling Expertise in CAD (e.g., NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and FEA/CFD simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN) for space environments Demonstrated experience in designing active/passive thermal control systems for high-heat-load electronics Strong understanding of launch vehicle requirements and space-rated material selection Ability to work on-site at Tesla’s Palo Alto office, contributing to a fast-paced, collaborative environment