Instrumentation & Controls Technician, Water Treatment (Starlink)
SpaceX · Bastrop, TX
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level controls role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Bastrop, TX. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, PLC
- 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
Maintenance Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $58k–$84k.
Median of the low and high ends of 37 live postings that list pay, out of 1616 maintenance 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 26 other live controls postings in Texas.
- Experience asked
- Typical (3+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 59%
- Automation 59%
- Robotics 30%
- ✓ Root cause 22%
✓ = 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 Controls team at SpaceX
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 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
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Write to Naseh → (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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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
157 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in controls roles at SpaceX.
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- 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
- ◆Perform installation, calibration, troubleshooting, and repair of industrial instrumentation, including pH, ORP, conductivity, turbidity, flow, level, pressure, and temperature transmitters
- ◆Troubleshoot and maintain control panels, PLCs (Allen Bradley/Siemens), VFDs, and motor starters related to water treatment skids
- ◆Diagnose issues within 4-20mA, 0-10V, and digital communication loops (Ethernet/IP, Modbus)
- ◆Work closely with the water operations team to optimize chemical dosing pumps and automated valves for process efficiency
- ◆Execute preventative maintenance (PM) plans on electrical and control systems to minimize downtime
- ◆Assist engineers with the commissioning of new water treatment equipment and upgrades to existing infrastructure
- ◆Read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, and logic diagrams to identify root causes of system failures
- ◆Maintain accurate records of calibration and maintenance activities
- ◆Configure the data acquisition hardware and control screens/HMIs
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
- ✓3+ years of professional experience in industrial maintenance, instrumentation, or industrial electrical work
- ✓Experience working with low voltage controls (24VDC) and high voltage power (up to 480VAC)
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Associate degree in instrumentation technology, electrical engineering technology, or a related field
- ✓Experience specifically within water/wastewater treatment facilities (RO, DI, UF, Clarification and Precipitation, Thermal Evaporators)
- ✓Proficiency with Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix) and Ignition SCADA software
- ✓Strong understanding of fluid dynamics, pumps, and automated valves
- ✓Ability to solder, terminate wires, and fabricate simple brackets/conduit runs
- ✓Knowledge of NEC (National Electrical Code) and NFPA 70E standards
- ✓Experience with chemical handling systems and hazardous production materials
Requirements
- ✓General physical
requirements
Standing for long periods, climbing ladders/stairs, lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs, and working in tight quarters
- ✓Willingness to work overtime, weekends, and on-call shifts when needed to support critical infrastructure
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 .
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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.
Instrumentation and controls technician - water treatment
The Water Treatment team at SpaceX is looking for an experienced Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Technician to support our rapidly expanding site in Bastrop, TX. You will be the technical backbone of our critical water infrastructure, ensuring the reliability of Ultra-Pure Water (UPW), Industrial Wastewater (IWW), and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems that support our manufacturing and testing operations.
This is not a role for someone who prefers to sit at a desk. We need a hands-on problem solver who can troubleshoot a PLC panel in the morning, calibrate sensitive chemical analyzers in the afternoon, and help redesign a control loop before the end of the day. You will take ownership of the "eyes and ears" of our water systems, ensuring uptime for critical production lines and safety for the rest of the operations team.