
Maintenance Technician - Level 4/5
SpaceX · Starbase, TX
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Travel
- 25%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 7 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Starbase, TX. Fabricate and install fluid system components from a schematic or engineering drawing, including, but not limited to, ball valves, check valves, pressure regulators, and pressure gauges.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Day to day
- about 25% travel
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 145 other live reliability postings in Texas.
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 3+)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 54%
- PLC 33%
- Root cause 27%
- Welding 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for New product launch, Cost reduction, 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 Reliability team at SpaceX
We found 4 people at this company and state: 4 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 Marcus → (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?
- The posting says about 25% travel. Between which sites?
- 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 · 4 people we found in reliability roles at SpaceX.
- Controls Technician - 2nd Shift · Controls · Technician
- Automation & Controls Specialist · Controls · Specialist
- Launch Operations Engineer (Starship) · Production
- Corrosion Control Technician · Controls · Technician
- Supplier Quality Specialist (Starship) · Quality · Specialist
- Controls Technician · Controls · Technician
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Fabricate and install fluid system components from a schematic or engineering drawing, including, but not limited to, ball valves, check valves, pressure regulators, and pressure gauges
- ◆Troubleshoot operational issues found during the activation of controls, fluids, and mechanical systems
- ◆Work with a team of technicians and engineers to ensure every system is operating with the highest level of quality to support the 100% successful launch of a multimillion-dollar launch vehicle
- ◆Operate heavy machinery, including forklifts and aerial platforms
- ◆Perform hands-on operations with both large and small fragile assemblies
- ◆Perform maintenance tasks as required in a variety of roles for vehicle integration, pad maintenance, site preventative maintenance, general facilities, and any other general maintenance work to maintain an operational launch site (including corrosion control)
- ◆Create, maintain, and edit written work orders and instructions
- ◆Perform lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and fluid system configuration procedures, ensuring all physical and administrative actions are completed safely and accurately
- ◆Monitor and interpret critical instrumentation data to assess the health and performance of fluid systems
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- ✓7+ years of experience performing maintenance or installation work on mechanical and low-voltage control systems
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓NCCER Instrumentation certification
- ✓Experience working on a rocket launch pad and directly supporting launch operations
- ✓Experience in military aviation as a propulsion or airframe technician
- ✓Experience using heavy equipment (overhead cranes, forklifts, and man lifts)
- ✓Experience following detailed schematics and fabricating fluid panels from said schematics
- ✓Knowledge of hydraulic/cryogenic systems and operations
- ✓Experience explaining the differences between test setups: hydraulic vs. pneumatic vs. thermal and between sensors (load cells, differential pressure transducers, thermocouples, etc.)
- ✓Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex controls, fluids, and mechanical systems
- ✓Experience routing tubes in the field to a high level of accuracy
- ✓Experience in safely rigging and moving items under 20,000 lbs.
- ✓Experience operating and building a flush cart, proof cart, and leak check cart
- ✓Experience working in a clean room environment
- ✓Familiarity with calibrated measurement devices, including load cells, multimeters, calipers, torque wrenches, depth gauges, and micrometers
Requirements
- ✓Typical hours for this position, excluding overtime, are Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- ✓Must be available for overtime and weekends as the schedule varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility is required
- ✓Ability to support shift rotations as site needs change
- ✓Flight hardware is typically built in tight quarters, and physical dexterity is required
- ✓Valid driver's license and a clean driving record
- ✓Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments - heat, cold, rain
- ✓Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
- ✓Must be able to travel to other SpaceX facilities when needed (up to 25% travel)
- ✓Stand: Up to 10 hours per day
- ✓Sit: Up to 3 hours per day
- ✓Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) between 1 to 2 hours per day
- ✓Overhead reach: Up to 10 hours per day
- ✓Walk: Up to 10 hours per day
- ✓Lift/Carry: Up to ≤ 50 lbs. (unassisted) between 1 to 2 hours per day
- ✓Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 6 hours per day
- ✓Kneel/Crouch: Up to 10 hours per day
- ✓Upper body twist: Up to 6 hours per day
- ✓Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees for 6 hours or greater per day
- ✓Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, 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,
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.
Maintenance technician - level 4/5
We are looking for a maintenance technician to install and maintain the Starship test stand's electrical, mechanical, and fluid systems in preparation for test operations. These systems include hydraulics, high-pressure nitrogen/helium, and cryogenic systems.
In addition to the required experience below, our ideal candidate shows personal initiative, maintains composure, and fosters a positive environment. In this role, it is important to be responsible, hardworking, and conscientious about the quality of work performed. The maintenance technician will need to take the lead in making suggestions and not get discouraged along the way. Additionally, they must produce high-quality work promptly while continually looking for process improvements, streamlining, and cost savings.
