Tool & Die Specialist - Level 4/5 (2nd Shift)

SpaceX · Bastrop, TX

Level: Technician
Team: Manufacturing
Experience asked: 5+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A technician-level manufacturing role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Bastrop, TX. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.

They ask for: 5+ years
Tools it names: CNC, Machining, Injection molding, Stamping, Welding, Casting

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Manufacturing Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $60k–$91k.

Median of the low and high ends of 50 live postings that list pay, out of 825 manufacturing 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 72 other live manufacturing postings in Texas.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: More than usual (5+ vs 3+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Team leadership 49%
✓ Tooling 40%
✓ Machining 37%
✓ CNC 33%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Injection molding, Stamping, Casting, New product launch, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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 Manufacturing team at SpaceX
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2
Send a short, curious note
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3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
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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

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Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

◆Maintenance, repair, and modification of molds for plastic injection and die casting of various sizes
◆Responsible for the correct disassembly and assembly of molds in a safe, efficient, and timely manner
◆Repair and/or fabricate cores, cavities, and various other components
◆Hand work repairs to part details, parting lines, lifters, slides, polished cavities, texture, venting, and spotting
◆Support production and maintenance with troubleshooting
◆Create and maintain mold spare parts lists
◆Identify and implement proactive systems to achieve consistent reduction in manufacturing defects and productivity concerns
◆Support design engineering to evaluate feasibility and implementation of tooling changes to accommodate part change
◆Assist process engineering with part processing and troubleshooting for ongoing scrap reduction, cycle time reduction and downtime reduction

Qualifications

✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
✓5+ years of hands-on technician experience with tool maintenance and/or repair with plastic injection molds

Preferred skills and experience

✓1+ years of welding experience
✓7+ years of hands-on technician experience with tool and die maintenance and/or repair
✓1+ years of TIG welding experience on tool steels
✓1+ years of machining experience for minor mold component repair/replacement
✓Demonstrated experience in production mold maintenance, producing high volume parts
✓Basic electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic troubleshooting and repair (i.e., hot runner system, slide or core action limit switches, sequential valve gate cylinders)
✓Experience with interpretation of dimensional inspection results (check fixtures, CMM or vision systems)
✓Professional experience with laser welding, preferably with expertise working with steel
✓Professional experience with tool(s) polishing
✓Professional experience with texturing/graining tools
✓3+ years of professional experience with CNC machining of tool/die components
✓Professional experience within manufacturing on new product launch process
✓Strong analytic problem-solving skills
✓Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail
✓Work efficiently and productively in independent and team settings
✓Communicate clearly using excellent written and verbal skills
✓Familiarity/experience with MS office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)

Requirements

✓Must be willing to work the following hours:
✓2nd shift: Monday to Friday from 3:30pm to 2:00am
✓Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching are generally required to perform the functions of this position
✓Must be willing to work overtime and or weekends as needed

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 ↓

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.