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.
AUTOMATION & CONTROLS SPECIALIST (STARSHIP) - LEVEL 4/5
Starship is the largest and most capable space launch system ever developed. With the capability to deliver in excess of 100 metric tons to Earth’s orbit, it will fundamentally change access to space, and is the technology that will be used to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars. We will ultimately need thousands of Starships to accomplish that feat.
The production fluids team is focused on the design and deployment of critical manufacturing and test infrastructure to manufacture & validate vehicle systems prior to flight, enabling high-rate manufacturing. We are looking for enthusiastic and creative individuals to merge rigorous aerospace design with highly reliability industrial fluid systems. As a process specialist, you will be responsible for developing the foundational processes our team requires.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design, develop, deploy, and manage ground-up automation and controls projects including initial trades, commissioning, hand-off, and training.
- Deep drive process and project specifications for deliverables with design engineers (internal & external) to bound project criteria.
- Design and commission PLC, HMI, and SCADA applications in a high-reliability production environment.
- Design, redline, modify and correct electrical and pneumatic schematics using a mix of in-house and 3rd party tools (EPLAN, Schematics, Etc.).
- Lay out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant.
- Create and update concise written and visual instructions from design review, technical drawings, and requirement documentation.
- Audit manufacturing process - assessing process inefficiencies, safety improvements, and potential optimizations through the implementation of automation.
- Develop SOW’s, bargain, trade, and release contractor work to enable the in-house build team to keep pace with production needs.
- Proactively utilize JIRA to plan out & complete weekly scheduled tasks.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- 3+ years of hands-on experience installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining automation and controls systems
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years of manufacturing experience in a high-volume production environment
- 2+ years of experience troubleshooting and programming 6-axis and Cartesian robots
- Electrical schematic CAD experience using EPlan
- C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience
- PLC programming experience
- HMI and SCADA programming experience
- Field bus networks, serial communication and Ethernet communication
- Hands-on experience building and commissioning high quality electrical control panels and electro-mechanical systems
- Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 79, UL508A codes
- Experience in independently troubleshooting advanced electrical circuits, electronic systems, motors & starters, electrically operated equipment and making successful repairs and modifications
- Proficient in excel, office, and word
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights.
- Work extended hours and weekends as needed to support launch operations.
- Remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE.
- Lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted.
- Provide 24/7 on-call support for emergencies.
- Valid driver’s license.
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.
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 [email protected].
Skills Required
- 3+ years of hands-on experience installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining automation and controls systems
- High school diploma or equivalency certificate
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
