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Power Plant Engineer

SpaceX · Starbase, TX

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Level
Engineer
Team
Production
Degree
Required
Experience asked
2+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level production role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Starbase, TX. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.

They ask for
2+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Root cause, SolidWorks, CATIA / NX

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

It asks for 2+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone on the team first.

At a glance

Lifts up to 25 lbs

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at SpaceX

    We found 2 people at this company and state: 2 on the team. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 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 Kevin → (free)
  3. 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. 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. 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.

About the role

Responsibilities

  • ◆Support the full lifecycle of gas turbine power generation assets — installation, commissioning, startup, operations, and long-term maintenance
  • ◆Lead or support commissioning activities including combustion tuning, control system checkout, protective relay testing, and performance/reliability run verification
  • ◆Own root-cause analysis and corrective action for turbine trips, forced outages, and performance degradation; drive fixes that prevent recurrence
  • ◆Develop and refine operating procedures, startup/shutdown sequences, and abnormal operating condition playbooks
  • ◆Interface directly with OEMs (GE, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Doosan) on warranty issues, LTSA scope, outage planning, and technical issues
  • ◆Plan and execute major/minor inspections, hot gas path outages, and combustion inspections in line with OEM maintenance intervals
  • ◆Analyze turbine performance data (heat rate, capacity factor, degradation curves) to identify efficiency losses and recommend corrective action
  • ◆Coordinate with balance-of-plant teams (HRSG, steam turbine, cooling systems, water treatment) to ensure integrated performance
  • ◆Build and maintain relationships with EPC contractors during construction handoff to ensure a clean transition from construction to commercial operation
  • ◆Develop spare parts strategy, critical spares inventory, and maintenance budgets

Qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
  • ✓2+ years of hands-on experience with utility-scale gas turbines in commissioning, operations, or maintenance roles

Preferred skills and experiences

  • ✓Working knowledge of combined-cycle plant systems: gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, generators, and balance-of-plant equipment
  • ✓Experience reading and interpreting P&IDs, single-line diagrams, and turbine control logic
  • ✓Direct commissioning experience with GE 7/9HA, Siemens Energy SGT6/8-8000H, Mitsubishi M501/701JAC, or Doosan H-class turbines
  • ✓Experience with DCS/turbine control platforms (Mark VIe, SPPA-T3000, or equivalent)
  • ✓Familiarity with LTSA structures, OEM contract negotiation, and outage scope development
  • ✓Background in root-cause failure analysis (RCA/5-Why/Fishbone) for rotating equipment
  • ✓Experience with performance monitoring tools and heat balance modeling
  • ✓Exposure to grid interconnection requirements, PPA performance obligations, or capacity market rules
  • ✓Experience integrating power generation with co-located industrial or data center loads
  • ✓A bias toward action: comfortable making a call in the field without waiting for a committee
  • ✓Demonstrated ability to work under pressure during startup, outages, or unplanned events, with a sense of urgency and ownership over outcomes
  • ✓Experience using SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, or similar CAD software
  • ✓Knowledge of engineering standards and best practices such as ASME B31.3, ASME BPV Code Section VIII, and AFSPCMAN 91-710

Requirements

  • ✓Schedule varies depending on site operational needs; must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as business needs require
  • ✓Flexibility to travel to other SpaceX sites
  • ✓Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings and climbing hand over hand
  • ✓Typically exposed to work in outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
  • ✓Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
  • ✓Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
  • ✓Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
  • ✓Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
  • ✓Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
  • ✓Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
  • ✓Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
  • ✓Kneel/Crouch: N/A
  • ✓Upper body twist: N/A
  • ✓Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
  • ✓Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical

requirements

of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review.

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 disabili

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.

Power plant engineer

SpaceX is building and operating combined-cycle gas turbine power plants that must come online, stay online, and perform. This role owns the design and build of the full power plant: gas turbines, mechanical and electrical balance of plant, and everything else that keeps the plant running at rated output, day after day. This is not a desk job. You will be constructing the power plant, owning commissioning in the control room during startup, and in the field troubleshooting.

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