
Harness Engineering Specialist (Starshield)
SpaceX · Hawthorne, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Hawthorne, CA. Develop and release harness design solutions within a 3D NX CAD environment, both CAD models and manufacturing drawings/formboards.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Tooling, CATIA / NX
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $114k–$167k.
Median of the low and high ends of 117 live postings that list pay, out of 320 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 319 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $111k–$157k, from 105 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 53%
- ✓ New product launch 51%
- Root cause 40%
- Automation 35%
- Machining 29%
- ✓ CATIA / NX 29%
✓ = 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 Manufacturing team at SpaceX
We found 9 people at this company and state: 5 in this kind of role, 4 leaders. 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 Michael → (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?
- 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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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 Hawthorne
66 other open roles at this site · 9 people we found in manufacturing roles at SpaceX.
- Lead Hardware Reliability Engineer (Starshield) · Reliability · Manager
- Lead Operations Engineer · Production · Manager
- Environmental & Thermal Control Engineer (Dragon) · Controls
- Supplier Quality Specialist (Starship Supply Chain) · Quality · Specialist
- Manufacturing Engineer (Raptor Final Assembly & Tube Shop) · Manufacturing
- Process Specialist, Vendor Management (Starlink) · Process · Specialist
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Develop and release harness design solutions within a 3D NX CAD environment, both CAD models and manufacturing drawings/formboards
- ◆Adhere to and improve internal design standards and
requirements
- ✓Work with responsible engineers to generate electrical schematics for both flight and qualification designs
- ✓Perform testing (both mechanical and electrical) of harnessing with respect to thermal, loads, vibration and shock to ensure full qualification for flight
- ✓Triage non-conforming interconnect products and drive resolution and preventative actions
- ✓Develop new tooling and manufacturing methods for fabricating electrical and optical harnessing products
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- ✓3+ years of professional wire harnessing experience or similar environment, OR bachelor’s degree in engineering or a similar field
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Proficiency with 3D CAD harnessing/routing design and drafting experience with Siemens NX or similar software
- ✓Experience with electrical/optical harnessing processes and tooling
- ✓Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
- ✓Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Requirements
- ✓Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, OR ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance is desired but not required. An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing
- ✓Must be able to work all required shift hours, overtime, and weekends as needed. Estimated shift times; 1st Shift: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
- ✓Must be able to lift 25 pounds unassisted
- ✓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
- ✓Ability to travel to SpaceX, vendors, customers, and partner locations as necessary
requirements
of the law.
Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, once officially briefed into a classified program.
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.
Harness engineering specialist (starshield)
Starshield leverages SpaceX’s satellite technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.
SpaceX is looking to hire a satellite harness engineering specialist to work with a brilliant and passionate team of engineers. As a harness engineering specialist on the Starshield team, you will be responsible for designing and releasing satellite harness CAD models and drawings, qualifying interconnects and cables, and developing new harness fabrication methods across our various satellite configurations. This role has high exposure across our various satellite vehicle subsystems and befits one who is highly collaborative and motivated to take on a diverse range of challenging work.
Pay Range
Level 1: $33.00 - $39.00
Level 2: $37.00 - $44.00
Level 3: $41.00 - $50.00
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 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. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use
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