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.

Build Specialist (Booster Structures Engineering) 

Our elite Starbase team is working on the toughest and most audacious project on our planet; making humanity multi-planetary. This challenge isn’t for everyone – the working conditions can be hard on a desolate beach at the southernmost tip of the state – but hardcore projects require hardcore people. If you, want to immerse yourself in never-before-solved challenges, and are excited to put in the effort to make this goal a reality, we want to hear from you.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Collaborate and work with the production leadership team by driving engineering standards for excellence in the builds (quality, build improvements, order of operations, etc.)
  • Interface with engineers and technicians to advance and streamline manufacturing flow; eliminate unnecessary scope, downtime, and blockers
  • Create and manage tools to communicate schedule; identify critical path/dependencies, and track progress build over build
  • Review and triage work order feedback; work with process planning to drive necessary incorporation on in-process work orders and next engineering master’s revisions
  • Support first build process development for new and changing assembly designs that can include process and equipment design, physical operations, and development builds
  • Identify need for shop aids and tooling that will increase work center productivity
  • Identify and implement shop floor layout improvements as well as storage and organizational improvements
  • Routinely broadcast status, milestones, and roadmap of projects to stakeholders
  • Resolve manufacturing issues, disposition nonconforming parts, modify bills of materials, perform root cause analysis, and implement robust corrective actions
  • Implement standard practices, troubleshooting guides, and standard repair procedures
  • Evaluate proposed designs and planning for manufacturability and integration by collaborating with build, design, and build reliability engineers
  • Provide recommendations for tooling design and improvement based on analysis and data
  • Design tooling for new and existing products to support rate production
  • Create high-quality work orders, engineering masters, and other manufacturing resource planning
  • Streamline existing production builds to minimize cost while improving quality and efficiency
  • Manage resources, plan, and interface with other production groups including external vendors, manufacturing engineers, and technicians

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • High school diploma or equivalency certificate and 2+ years of professional experience in a hands-on manufacturing environment; OR Bachelor's degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Associate or bachelor's degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline
  • 2+ years of experience in a manufacturing and process planning role
  • Experience working effectively in a team environment
  • Ability to solve complex manufacturing problems on schedule with little to no supervision as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
  • Experience with written and verbal communication including experience communicating with external and internal stakeholders
  • Experience troubleshooting and problem-solving
  • Understanding of spacecraft integration processes including avionics, propulsion systems, and mechanical integration
  • Experience with data analysis (Excel, VBA, and/or SQL)
  • Knowledge of pressure, temperature, and flow measurement devices
  • Experience taking products through development cycle to full-volume production
  • Experience with design for manufacturability and assembly
  • Experience with Siemens NX (UG), Teamcenter CAD, and PDM systems
  • Experience with process development, facility, and line layouts
  • Experience with Lean Manufacturing Tools, PFMEA, Value Chain Mapping, Kanban, OEE, and 5

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Nominal hours - 1st shift: 6 AM - 4 PM, 2nd shift: 4 PM - 6 AM
  • Must be willing to work all shifts, overtime, and weekends as needed
  • Must be able to lift 25 lbs. unassisted
  • Must be willing to travel – up to 5%
  • Ability to stand for extended periods – 8 hours minimum
  • Ability to work at elevated heights (up to 200 feet)
  • Ability to work in confined spaces
  • Willing to work in an outdoor environment exposed to heat, cold, and rain
  • Willing to work in an environment exposed to fumes, odors, and noise

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:         

Pay range:
Build Specialist/Level 1: $28.00/hour
Build Specialist/Level 2: $32.00/hour
Build Specialist/Level 3: $36.00/hour

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.

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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.

Apply for this Job

* Required
resume chosen  
(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)
When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review
+ Add another education


Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.


Enter the verification code sent to to confirm you are not a robot, then submit your application.

This application was flagged as potential bot traffic. To resubmit your application, turn off any VPNs, clear the browser's cache and cookies, or try another browser. If you still can't submit it, contact our support team through the help center.