
Automated Welding Technician (Starship)
SpaceX · Starbase, TX
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 1+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level manufacturing role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Starbase, TX. You will operate advanced machinery to fabricate, assemble, and inspect high-precision components critical to spacecraft structures.
- They ask for
- 1+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- 5S, AS9100, Robotics, CNC, Machining, Stamping
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
- Less than usual (1+ vs 4+)
Typical $85k–$105k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
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 AS9100, Robotics, Stamping, 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 Manufacturing team at SpaceX
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 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 Andres → (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 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 Starbase
48 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in manufacturing roles at SpaceX.
- Controls Technician - 2nd Shift · Controls · Technician
- Automation & Controls Specialist · Controls · Specialist
- Launch Operations Engineer (Starship) · Production
- Corrosion Control Technician · Controls · Technician
- Maintenance Technician - Level 4/5 · Reliability · Technician
- Supplier Quality Specialist (Starship) · Quality · Specialist
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Operate and utilize advanced manufacturing equipment such as robots, welders, and manufacturing software.
- ◆Set up and calibrate machinery based on engineering blueprints, CAD models, and production specifications to ensure precise dimensions (e.g., tolerances within microns for structural integrity under extreme conditions).
- ◆Perform material handling, including loading raw materials (e.g., steel coils or gores) and unloading finished sections for further assembly or stacking.
- ◆Conduct in-process inspections using tools like calipers, laser scanners, and non-destructive testing (NDT) methods to verify quality, detect defects, and ensure compliance with NASA/AS9100 standards.
- ◆Prepare surfaces and edges of barrel sections for welding and assembly, including cleaning, grinding, beveling, and deburring to ensure optimal joint quality, adhesion, and structural integrity.
- ◆Collaborate with engineers, welders, and assembly teams to troubleshoot issues, optimize processes, and implement continuous improvements in fabrication techniques, including working with weld development and engineering teams to refine welding parameters, materials, and methodologies for enhanced performance and efficiency.
- ◆Perform routine preventative maintenance on fabrication equipment, including inspections, lubrication, and minor repairs, to ensure operational reliability, minimize downtime, and extend equipment lifespan.
- ◆Maintain a clean and organized workspace according to 5S, adhering to safety protocols for handling heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and high-pressure environments.
- ◆Document production data, including machine logs, quality reports, and maintenance records, using digital systems for traceability.
- ◆Participate in shift rotations, overtime, and rapid prototyping efforts to support aggressive production timelines for the Starship programs success.
- ◆Check work after completion of each operation in job and/or completed job to ensure it is complete per drawing.
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
- ✓1+ years of experience in hardware assembly, test, maintenance, material handling, machine operator, and/or installation; OR certificate from an accredited trade skills program in welding, A&P, manufacturing, and/or electronics.
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Technical certification in machining, fabrication, or welding preferred (e.g., AWS Certified Welder or CNC Operator certification).
- ✓Experience in operating fabrication machinery in a manufacturing setting, ideally in aerospace, automotive, or heavy industry.
- ✓Proficiency with tools and software such as CNC programming (e.g., G-code), CAD/CAM systems, and quality management software.
- ✓Strong mechanical aptitude, with knowledge of metalworking processes like rolling, bending, stamping, and heat treatment for aerospace-grade materials.
- ✓Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, blueprints, and specifications.
Requirements
- ✓Must be willing to work all shifts (day shift, 6 AM - 6 PM or night shift, 6 PM - 6 AM), overtime, and weekends as needed.
- ✓Repetitive assembly operations, grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position.
- ✓Stand: Up to 10 hours per day.
- ✓Sit: Up to 1 hour per day.
- ✓Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) 30 minutes to 1 hour per day.
- ✓Overhead reach: Up to 6 hours per day.
- ✓Walk: Up to 6 hours per day.
- ✓Lift/Carry: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day.
- ✓Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 3 hours per day.
- ✓Kneel/Crouch: Up to 6 hours per day.
- ✓Upper body twist: Up to 6 hours per day.
- ✓Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees 30 minutes or less per day.
- ✓Candidate must be capable of safely using an air purifying respirator, operating heavy equipment and machinery, 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 veter
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.
Automated welding technician (starship)
As an Automated Welding Technician specializing in Starship and Super Heavy Booster fuselage and tank sections, you will operate advanced machinery to fabricate, assemble, and inspect high-precision components critical to spacecraft structures. These sections form the body of the fuselage and the tanks, requiring expertise in metal forming, welding preparation, and quality control to meet stringent aerospace standards for strength, weight, and durability. This role demands attention to detail, safety adherence, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, innovative environment focused on fully reusable space vehicles.
