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Manufacturing Engineer, Machine Shop (Starship)

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.

As an engineer at SpaceX, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. You will work on hardware that will deliver satellites into earth orbit, ferry humans to and from the international space station, and ultimately extend humanity’s reach beyond the earth and moon. You will own the relationship between our engineering, production, and quality teams, with a focus on inspection reliability and efficiency, driving design for manufacturability improvements on the hardware you own in the machine shop. You will aggressively pursue improved inspection processes that require lower touch time and optimized requirements to meet flight production rates without sacrificing reliability. You will provide input into the design and development of new and existing hardware—particularly optimizing for manufacturability and inspectability—and take a lead role in inspection processes within production on our current and next-generation vehicles, including Starship machining operations.

Responsibilities

• Determine inspection method (e.g., manual inspection, CMMs, Keyence, etc.) that results in maximum utilization, maximize machine uptime, and reduce part stagnation
• Increase inspection throughput by evaluating and incorporating automation opportunities, focused on efficiency gains, such as standardizing rework guides, eliminating redundant checks, and optimizing frequency of inspections
• Maintain tight feedback loops with the design and manufacturing teams to reduce cycle times from defect detection to manufacturing and inspection updates
• Update engineering drawings to allow for better manufacturing and inspection (e.g., refining GD&T datum structures and callouts for stable, repeatable measurements)
• Drive design for manufacturing initiatives related to inspection processes, including reducing CMM inspection times through optimized programming, fixturing, and workflow streamlining
• Review out-of-tolerance conditions rigorously and sign off on dispositions to enable efficient production flow
• Collaborate with other SpaceX machine shops and quality facilities to share inspection capabilities, develop resources, and address capacity, scheduling, and process alignment issues as necessary
• Contain non-conforming products created by the shop and work to implement short-term and long-term corrective actions after completing thorough root cause investigations on the issue

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics
• 1+ years of machine shop, manufacturing, quality, and/or inspection experience (student project team or internship experience qualifies)

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Highly experienced with a variety of precision conventional and advanced metrology systems (CMMs, 3D imaging)
• Well versed in GD&T and inspection procedures
• Well versed in standard machine shop manufacturing processes and setups
• Experience setting up and operating state-of-the-art machining equipment
• Experience operating CNCs, conventional lathe and mill machines, and other machine shop equipment used to manufacture high‑precision parts
• Demonstrated proficiency in CNC programming (lathes and mills) and CMM programming

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range:

• Manufacturing Engineer / Level I: $100,000.00 – $117,500.00 per year
• Manufacturing Engineer / Level II: $115,000.00 – $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, stock options, 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.

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.

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.