Supervisor, Thermal Hardware

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.

SUPERVISOR, THERMAL HARDWARE

SpaceX continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technology with pragmatic, lean manufacturing. This is especially important within Thermal Protection Systems and their associated adhesives, coatings, paints, and ablatives. These materials are designed to withstand the extreme environments of launch, on-orbit operations, and reentry. The Thermal Hardware Supervisor leads a team of technicians in manufacturing silicone adhesives, paints, and ablatives for Starship, Raptor, Dragon, Falcon, and Starlink. They are the most influential person on-site to drive progress on an hour-by-hour and day-by-day basis. The Supervisor is also a key enabler of a productive, fun, and hard-working culture of continuous improvement. For this role specifically, they must be an inspiring leader, often working side by side with their engineering team to execute on the mission to make spaceflight more reliable and economical.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead for all aspects of daily production operations:
  • Plan and coordinate daily tasks that support the production of glues, paints, and emulsions
  • Balance resources across the team to effectively prioritize work
  • Drive progress daily by proactively communicating needs and blockers to production goals
  • Build and manage a strong, motivated production team that consistently delivers high quality products against aggressive production targets
  • Manage consumables and tool inventory to support work-cell efficiency
  • Prioritize and improve area safety through regular auditing and continuous improvement
  • Lead by example; step in to help where necessary
• Facilitate the development of technician skills by developing personnel qualifications and training modules
• Collaborate with the Production Manager to plan an operational strategy to produce products efficiently and reliably
• Utilize data-driven metrics to track progress towards production goals and proactively champion initiatives to improve
• Accountable for the establishment and utilization of proper material flow through the factory, including setting up incoming/WIP/outgoing lanes, lineside inventory, and transaction procedures
• Work with engineering to design and set up factory layout and flow to optimize efficiency and reliability of operation, as well as to support factory moves and expansion
• Work with engineering to develop and maintain sufficient work instructions and process specifications to support production and safety
• Work with engineering and machine maintenance to develop and maintain preventive maintenance procedures, critical parts, and spare parts inventory to keep the production line healthy
• Support setting up and troubleshooting machinery and production equipment to ensure timely operation
• Enable the team to effectively contribute to ongoing material development (i.e., bringing new products online and/or improving current products)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 4+ years of experience in a production role within aerospace, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, or industrial/chemical processing
• 1+ years of experience leading a team or projects

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 6+ years of experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• 4+ years of direct production leadership experience
• Experience with adhesive, paints, or emulsion manufacturing methods
• Experience with mechanical and materials characterization testing
• Experience using silicone RTV’s, paints, and ablatives in fabricating parts and assemblies
• Hands-on experience working on production processes
• Experience in materials and process development
• Experience in scaling production
• Basic machine shop fabrication proficiency
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability, Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Failure Mode Effects Analysis
• Familiarity with Supply Chain demand and planning principles
• Ability to effectively communicate (verbal and written) with engineering and production
• Able to seamlessly adapt to constantly changing work assignments and fast paced work environment
• Excellent concentration and attention to detail with outstanding work efficiency and accuracy
• Fluent in the Office platform (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
• Experience using SQL for organization and analysis of data

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to stand for extended periods – 8 hours min
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Must be able to travel for short and extended trips as needed (~10%)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: 

Pay range:    
Supervisor: $110,000.00 - $140,000.00/per year    
    
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.