
Mechanical Specialist, PCB (Starlink/Starmind)
SpaceX · Bastrop, TX
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Reliability
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist reliability role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Bastrop, TX. Execute new product introduction builds across all work centers.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Painting / coating, MES
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Reliability Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $124k–$135k.
Median of the low and high ends of 9 live postings that list pay, out of 55 reliability engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 54 other live reliability postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 4+)
Typical $124k–$135k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 47%
- SAP 25%
- Automation 25%
- Team leadership 24%
- FMEA 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Painting / coating, MES, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Reliability team at SpaceX
We found 4 people at this company and state: 4 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 Marcus → (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?
- 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 Bastrop
157 other open roles at this site · 4 people we found in reliability roles at SpaceX.
- Facilities Specialist, Solar Cell Factory (Starlink) · Reliability · Specialist
- Lead Operations Engineer · Production · Manager
- Sr. Supplier Development Engineer (Starlink) · Quality · Senior
- Lead Production Technician, Solar Cells (Starlink) · Production · Technician
- PECVD Process Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink) · Process
- Process Specialist, Vendor Management (Starlink) · Process · Specialist
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Execute new product introduction builds across all work centers
- ◆Program, load, and operate automated equipment
- ◆Triage non-conforming products and drive resolution and preventative actions
- ◆Resolve production issues while ensuring design integrity, product quality, and delivery timelines
- ◆Perform process development and validation on new models in extremely aggressive timelines
- ◆Ensure the successful transition of products from development to volume production
- ◆Identify continuous improvement opportunities for yield, performance, and cost
- ◆Define maintenance schedules and support activities
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, math or science discipline; OR high school diploma or equivalency certificate and 3+ years of professional experience in a hands-on manufacturing environment in lieu of a degree
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Associate or bachelor's degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline
- ✓Experience producing J-STD-001 Class 2, IPC-A-610 Class 2 or equivalent hardware
- ✓Experience programming, loading, and operating the following automated equipment: paste printer, solder paste inspection (SPI), pick and place, reflow oven, automated optical inspection (AOI), X-ray inspection, adhesive/coating dispenser, BGA rework
- ✓Experience with electrical tests, in circuit and/or bed of nails testing
- ✓Ability to deliver high-quality hardware in a fast-paced NPI environment
- ✓Ability to adapt and process change quickly
- ✓Excellent computer skills (email, Microsoft Windows, ERP/MRP/MES systems, iOS, executing custom-developed software)
- ✓Excellent communication (written and verbal) and teamwork skills
- ✓Ability to provide process and design improvement suggestions to engineering
Requirements
- ✓Must be willing to begin work training on 1st shift (5:00 AM–5:00 PM) for initial 30 days
- ✓Must be willing to work one of the following schedules upon completion of training (B and D shift preferred):
- ✓A-Shift: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Sunday - Tuesday and every other Wednesday)
- ✓B-Shift: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Thursday - Saturday and every other Wednesday)
- ✓C-Shift: 5:00 PM - 5:00 AM (Sunday - Tuesday and every other Wednesday)
- ✓D-Shift: 5:00 PM - 5:00 AM (Thursday - Saturday and every other Wednesday)
- ✓Able to work all shifts and available for overtime and weekends as needed
- ✓Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching may be required to perform the functions of this position
- ✓Able to lift up to 25lbs. unassisted
- ✓Willing to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors for potentially extended periods of time including international
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.
MECHANICAL SPECIALIST, PCB (STARLINK/Starmind)
At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class specialists to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the world.
The success of Starlink depends on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, and security of the products that you deliver. If you seek a fast-paced, dynamic environment; if you thrive on solving difficult problems where resolutions have high impact; and if you love the challenge of building something from scratch, then this role will be an ideal next career step. We are looking for talented manufacturing specialists to help establish new manufacturing and test processes and support full-scale production for the user terminal (a high-volume manufactured product that consumers will have in their homes).
