Manufacturing Engineer, Starship - Materials Production

Hawthorne, CA

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.

MANUFACTURING ENGINEER, STARSHIP - MATERIALS PRODUCTION

SpaceX continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technological developments with pragmatic and lean manufacturing. The Dispensary plays a critical role in enabling SpaceX's mission by producing high-quality silicone adhesives, paints, ablatives, and thermal protection materials that support Starship, Dragon, Falcon, and all programs across the company. As a Manufacturing Engineer for the Dispensary, you will develop and optimize chemical processing operations, drive process improvements, and scale production capabilities to meet aggressive rate targets while maintaining the highest quality standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (design, materials science, quality, and production) to efficiently produce formulated materials on schedule and at rate
  • Develop and optimize production processes for silicone RTV adhesives, paints, ablatives, and thermal protection materials including mixing, degassing, curing, and downpacking operations
  • Design, specify, and qualify production equipment including mixers, reactors, degassers, ovens, pumps, and material handling systems
  • Drive design for manufacturing during new material development cycles, working with materials engineers to ensure formulations are producible at scale
  • Facilitate production of flight-qualified materials at increasing production rates while reducing cost and lead time
  • Resolve complex manufacturing defects through root cause investigation, design of experiments (DOE), and validation testing of process parameters
  • Develop and maintain process specifications, standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and control plans for all Dispensary production cells
  • Lead process qualification and validation activities for new materials and equipment, including protocol development, execution, and technical reporting
  • Implement statistical process control (SPC) and data-driven approaches to monitor process capability and drive continuous improvement
  • Support hazardous materials handling protocols and ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements for chemical processing operations
  • Partner with supply chain and quality teams to qualify raw materials, establish supplier specifications, and resolve material quality issues
  • Lead capital equipment projects from concept through installation, including vendor selection, design reviews, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT)
  • Build and scale manufacturing processes from the ground up in a rapidly evolving, high-rate production environment

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of hands-on experience in chemical processing, polymer manufacturing, or materials production (internship and project team experience applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • 3+ years of professional experience in chemical manufacturing, materials processing, or process engineering
  • Experience with silicone chemistry, polymer processing, or formulated materials production
  • Hands-on experience with chemical processing equipment including mixers, reactors, degassers, vacuum systems, pumps, and material handling systems
  • Experience with materials characterization methods (rheology/viscometry, mechanical testing, thermal analysis, optical properties)
  • Experience with process simulation and modeling tools for chemical processes
  • Expertise transitioning products from R&D through prototype manufacturing to high-volume production
  • Experience with rapidly introducing process improvements and lean manufacturing principles in chemical or materials production environments
  • Validation testing experience for aerospace materials and processes
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production scheduling in a manufacturing environment
  • Knowledge of hazardous materials handling, chemical safety, and environmental compliance
  • Experience working with thermal protection systems (TPS) or aerospace-grade adhesives
  • Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to wear and obtain certification in the wearing of an air respirator
  • Position may require extended work hours and weekend work to support production demands
  • Position may require standing for extended periods and working directly with chemical processing equipment and materials on the production floor
  • Must be comfortable working with solvents, hazardous materials, inorganic acids and bases
  • Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
  • This position is based in Hawthorne, CA and requires being onsite - remote work not considered

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00

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. 

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To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

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