Automation & Controls Specialist, Infrastructure & Utility (Starship) - Level 4/5
SpaceX · Starbase, TX
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Controls
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist controls role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Starbase, TX. C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience.
- They ask for
- 3+ years
- Tools it names
- PLC, Robotics, Automation
- 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
Controls Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $95k–$140k.
Median of the low and high ends of 9 live postings that list pay, out of 81 controls engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 80 other live controls postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 4+)
Typical $95k–$140k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 84%
- ✓ Automation 77%
- ✓ Robotics 40%
- EHS / safety 27%
- ✓ Python 26%
- ✓ New product launch 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
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
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
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 · 3 people we found in controls 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
- ◆Design, develop, deploy, and manage ground-up automation and controls projects including initial trades, commissioning, hand-off, and training
- ◆Deep drive process and project specifications for deliverables with design engineers (internal & external) to bound project criteria
- ◆Design and commission PLC, HMI, and SCADA applications in a high-reliability production environment
- ◆Design, redline, modify and correct electrical and pneumatic schematics using a mix of in-house and 3 rd party tools (Eplan, schematics, etc.)
- ◆Lay out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant
- ◆Create and update concise written and visual instructions from design review, technical drawings, and requirement documentation
- ◆Audit manufacturing process - assessing process inefficiencies, safety improvements, and potential optimizations through the implementation of automation
- ◆Develop SOW’s, bargain, trade, and release contractor work to enable the in-house build team to keep pace with production needs
- ◆Proactively utilize JIRA to plan out & complete weekly scheduled tasks
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- ✓3+ years of hands-on experience installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining automation and controls systems
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓5+ years of manufacturing experience in a high-volume production environment
- ✓2+ years of experience troubleshooting and programming 6-axis and Cartesian robots
- ✓Electrical schematic CAD experience using Eplan
- ✓C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience
- ✓PLC programming experience
- ✓HMI and SCADA programming experience
- ✓Field bus networks, serial communication and Ethernet communication
- ✓Hands-on experience building and commissioning high quality electrical control panels and electro-mechanical systems
- ✓Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 79, UL508A codes
- ✓Experience in independently troubleshooting advanced electrical circuits, electronic systems, motors & starters, electrically operated equipment and making successful repairs and modifications
- ✓Proficient in excel, office, and word
Requirements
- ✓Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights
- ✓Work extended hours and weekends as needed to support launch operations
- ✓Remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE
- ✓Lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted
- ✓Provide 24/7 on-call support for emergencies
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.
Automation & controls specialist (starship) - level 4/5
Starship is the largest and most capable space launch system ever developed. With the capability to deliver in excess of 100 metric tons to Earth’s orbit, it will fundamentally change access to space, and is the technology that will be used to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars. We will ultimately need thousands of Starships to accomplish that feat.
The production fluids team is focused on the design and deployment of critical manufacturing and test infrastructure to manufacture & validate vehicle systems prior to flight, enabling high-rate manufacturing. We are looking for enthusiastic and creative individuals to merge rigorous aerospace design with highly reliability industrial fluid systems. As a process specialist, you will be responsible for developing the foundational processes our team requires.