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Assembly Technician (Starship)

SpaceX · Hawthorne, CA

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Level
Technician
Team
Manufacturing
Experience asked
1+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
Yesterday

The role in 30 seconds

A technician-level manufacturing role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Hawthorne, CA. You will be responsible for maintaining a high standard of build quality, ensuring tests are being run correctly, and interfacing directly with engineers on the floor.

They ask for
1+ years
Tools it names
Lean, 5S, Welding, Tooling
Day to day
some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Technician roles in California: typical posted base $59k–$78k.

Median of the low and high ends of 10 live postings that list pay, out of 128 manufacturing technician 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 95 other live manufacturing postings in California.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $85k–$117k, from 12 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (1+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Tooling 39%
  • Team leadership 36%
  • CNC 33%
  • Machining 32%
  • ✓ Lean 21%
  • ✓ New product launch 21%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Welding, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 1+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverageLifts up to 30 lbs

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

68 other open roles at this site · 9 people we found in manufacturing roles at SpaceX.

All 69 roles at SpaceX →
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

  • ◆Deliver state-of-the-art, high-quality components for Starship and Super Heavy. Utilize your laser welding skills with our automated laser welding machine, and be part of the mechanical assembly and pressure testing process
  • ◆Collaborate with engineering and leadership to achieve SpaceX’s component delivery rate in a reliable manner
  • ◆Maintain a safe, professional, and neat work area. Recommend changes to tooling, equipment, training, processes, and personal protective equipment to eliminate safety hazards
  • ◆Set the standard for a rigorous and efficient technician team by operating with high efficiency and utilization across a broad mix of products. Perform work according to procedures, specifications and test instructions, and communicate daily work completion to report to peers/leadership
  • ◆Troubleshoot failure modes and work directly with engineering to solve technical problems. Provide recommendations to design/instructions/process to improve reliability, manufacturability, or rate of components
  • ◆Grow your skillset (seal installation, assembly, laser welding, pneumatic pressure testing, etc.) and expertise across products while training peers in a fast-growing environment

Qualifications

  • ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
  • ✓1+ years of experience working in a fabrication, manufacturing/assembly, or testing role

Preferred skills and experience

  • ✓Experience in weld preparation
  • ✓Trained in assembly or testing of propulsion, aviation or automotive hardware
  • ✓A&P license
  • ✓Lean manufacturing (5S) knowledge and experience
  • ✓High attention to detail in order to ensure safety and accuracy of testing procedures
  • ✓Experience with pressure/temperature/flow measurement devices and mechanical/pneumatic systems
  • ✓3+ years of aerospace component testing experience
  • ✓Strong mathematical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
  • ✓Basic computer experience
  • ✓Experience effectively communicating (verbal and written) with engineering and production teams at all levels of the business
  • ✓Experience working autonomously or as part of a team to achieve inspiring production goals
  • ✓High pressure testing knowledge

Requirements

  • ✓Must be able to work 1st shift hours (5:00 AM - 3:30 PM), overtime, and weekends as needed
  • ✓Able to lift at least 30 lbs. unassisted

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 ↓

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.

Assembly technician (starship)

The Components team develops the most advanced spacecraft and launch vehicle components in the world. Our technicians serve as hardware build and test experts for a variety of compensator designs that are integrated into both Starship and Super Heavy Booster propulsion systems. This position will include laser welding components, mechanical assembly, and pressure testing large components in a fast paced environment.

As a technician, you will be responsible for maintaining a high standard of build quality, ensuring tests are being run correctly, and interfacing directly with engineers on the floor. Technicians in this role will be capable of understanding component functionality to be able to assist in troubleshooting or recognizing potential hazards/issues before they occur and helping to update work instructions/processes to reduce future issues and increase personnel safety.

Pay range

Level 1: $23.00 - $27.00/hour

Level 2: $26.00 - $32.50/hour

Level 3: $31.00 - $38.00/hour

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.

ITAR

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