
Instrumentation & Controls Technician
SpaceX · McGregor, TX
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Controls
- Travel
- 10%
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level controls role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in McGregor, TX. Maintain, calibrate, configure, monitor, test, troubleshoot, install, and repair instrumentation, process controls, data acquisition systems, and electrical systems.
- They ask for
- 2+ years
- Tools it names
- Welding
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Maintenance Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $58k–$84k.
Median of the low and high ends of 37 live postings that list pay, out of 1616 maintenance technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 26 other live controls postings in Texas.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 3+)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- PLC 59%
- Automation 59%
- Robotics 30%
- Root cause 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at SpaceX
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Naseh → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: SpaceX in McGregor
6 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in controls roles at SpaceX.
- Lead Operations Engineer · Production · Manager
- Operations Engineer · Production
- Test Stand Maintenance Technician - 2nd Shift · Reliability · Technician
- Apprentice Controls Technician · Controls · Technician
- Facilities Engineer, MEP · Reliability
- Test Stand Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
to achieve safe, economical, and reliable access to space.
Responsibilities
- ◆Maintain, calibrate, configure, monitor, test, troubleshoot, install, and repair instrumentation, process controls, data acquisition systems, and electrical systems
- ◆Investigate, diagnose, correct, and document instrumentation or system malfunctions
- ◆Lay out, build, test, troubleshoot, repair, and modify developmental and production electrical and electronic units, assemblies, components, parts, equipment, and systems.
- ◆Perform wire terminations to a variety of instruments and verify sensor health: pressure transducers, thermocouples, valves, limits, and flow meters
- ◆Adjust, calibrate, align, and modify circuitry and components, and record effects on unit performance
- ◆Read and interpret planning documents, schematics, wiring diagrams, specifications, drawings, manuals, blueprints, and engineering sketches
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- ✓2+ years of experience working with instrumentation such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, valves, flow meters, multimeters, or oscilloscopes
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Experience working with any of the following instrumentation: resistance temperature devices (RTDs), silicon diode temperature devices, strain gauges, load cells, displacement transducers, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and flow meters (turbine, coriolis, and ultrasonic)
- ✓IPC 620 spec for harness assembly
- ✓Basic knowledge of Wheatstone Bridge Theory, ability to apply Ohm's Law, and an understanding of DC electronics
- ✓Operational knowledge of an oscilloscope and multi-meter, soldering wires and connectors, operation of various crimping tools, wire stripping, continuity testing, pinning out a military type connector, routing and tie wrapping cables, drilling and tapping holes, and building junction boxes
- ✓System-level troubleshooting skills and the ability to logically solve instrumentation system problems and determine corrective action
- ✓Experience with Variable Frequency Drives and motor starters, and knowledge in troubleshooting
- ✓Knowledge in signal conditioning concepts for various types of sensors, to include the following: thermocouple Types K, S, and E; TC bonding concepts: resistance weld on and adhesive bond on types; TC probes through thermowell sheaths; cold junction compensation concepts
- ✓Background should include experience with the following devices: DC power supplies, DC-DC convertors, UPS installations, heat shrink tubing, cable harnessing, lacing, and proper strain relief concepts
- ✓Working knowledge of transducers, operational amplifiers, and the knowledge of measurement techniques for temperature, pressure, flow, displacement, vibration, and the application of strain gauges are also highly desired. Ability to identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications
- ✓Working knowledge of multiple bus architectures (PCI/PCIe, PXI/PXIe, GPIB, Serial, USB, etc.) and data communication technologies
- ✓Demonstrated capabilities in the development of comprehensive project plans that include all tasks, stage/gate milestones, and reviews necessary to successfully develop and implement solutions
- ✓Intermediate skill level using Windows Operating Systems
- ✓Intermediate skill level using Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, OneNote)
- ✓Knowledge in data acquisition concepts, hardware, and interfacing (SCXI and PXI-based)
Requirements
- ✓Flight hardware is typically built in tight quarters, and physical dexterity is required
- ✓Ability to lift heavy objects is required in this position, up to 50 pounds unassisted
- ✓Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting the upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, and climbing hand over hand
- ✓Ability to work at elevated heights
- ✓Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
- ✓Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
- ✓Schedule varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
- ✓Willing to travel to other SpaceX locations as necessary – up to 10%
- ✓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 .
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 .
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
Instrumentation & controls technician
The instrumentation & controls technician will support the build-up and maintenance of our data and control systems. These systems consist of varying data acquisition and control hardware, wiring and interface harnesses, and a wide variety of instrumentation. The goal of this team is to meet a variety of test
