Automation & Controls Technician — Solar Cells

SpaceX; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is hiring an Instrumentation & Controls Technician for our solar cell production lines. You will support integration, commissioning, and maintenance of automation systems, troubleshoot electromechanical and robotic equipment, and ensure safe, compliant operations in a high‑volume manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities include wiring and panel work, PLC/HMI diagnostics, hardware validation, and collaboration with Engineers and Specialists to maximize uptime and process stability.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• 2+ years in manufacturing with mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems; OR bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or science.

Responsibilities

• Support integration and commissioning of vendor/OEM equipment into centralized SCADA software (Ignition) and production line controls.
• Perform safe controls and electrical work within LOTO, arc-flash, guarding, interlock, robot/AGV, bypass-control, and restart‑verification requirements; identify hazards, verify zero energy, validate safety devices after repair, and elevate unsafe conditions or unauthorized changes.
• Maximize uptime of automation assets through hands‑on troubleshooting, basic repairs, and corrective actions on electromechanical, robotic, pneumatic, and control systems.
• Wire, commission, validate, build, and maintain industrial control panels and field devices to NFPA 79 & UL 508A standards; replace like‑for‑like components; restore wiring condition, and create accurate redlines.
• Navigate and diagnose PLCs, HMIs, alarms, permissives, sequences, I/O status, recipes, and logic behavior; clear approved alarms, perform basic recovery, capture evidence, and support minor authorized parameter/recipe adjustments with documentation.
• Set up, diagnose, replace, and validate sensors, instrumentation, vision, barcode/RFID, encoders, IO‑Link devices, and industrial networks; verify signals, alignment, scaling, and network health.
• Support controls for VFDs, servo systems, motion axes, robots, conveyors, AGV/AMR interfaces, and controlled movement; perform documented resets, homing, recovery, and safe dry‑cycle checks.
• Provide controls support for process‑critical solar cell equipment and facilities interfaces; protect product quality, recipe state, contamination control, and process stability during recovery.
• Perform structured fault finding, root‑cause support, and rapid corrective actions to minimize downtime on solar cell manufacturing equipment.
• Collaborate with engineers, Instrumentation & Controls Specialists, production, and maintenance teams to deliver safe, reliable solutions.
• Maintain accurate documentation, work tickets, and records; support 5S principles, inventory control, and a clean workspace.
• Ensure all work complies with safety protocols, cleanroom standards, LOTO, and regulatory requirements in a high‑volume manufacturing environment.

Skills

SCADA

PLC/HMI

Electrical wiring

Schematic reading

Robotics

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or science

Tools

Ignition

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Siemens TIA Portal

Allen‑Bradley RSLogix/Studio 5000

Job description

SpaceX is hiring an Instrumentation & Controls Technician for our solar cell production lines. You will support integration, commissioning, and maintenance of automation systems, troubleshoot electromechanical and robotic equipment, and ensure safe, compliant operations in a high‑volume manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities include wiring and panel work, PLC/HMI diagnostics, hardware validation, and collaboration with Engineers and Specialists to maximize uptime and process stability.