Composites Lamination Technician

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 63,039,000 - 100,289,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Composites Lamination Technician to build rocket and spacecraft structures with a focus on precision layup. Responsibilities include laminating assemblies, prepping parts for bagging, and performing autoclave curing, all while maintaining tight tolerances in a high-speed production environment.

The role requires a high school diploma and at least 1 year of assembly experience, plus skills in reading drawings and handling composite materials.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency
• 1+ years of assembly experience
• Experience with composites layup, bonding or prepreg/wet layup
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and notes
• Willing to follow written and verbal instructions and SOPs
• Attention to detail in a fast-paced production environment

Responsibilities

• Laminate assemblies by determining proper placement of composite materials into molds
• Prepare parts for bagging, including bleeders, thermocouples, probes and vacuum connections
• Perform vacuum bag processing, bonding, and oven/autoclave curing
• Make basic layouts on parts or assemblies to establish reference points and check dimensions with calipers, micrometers, and torque wrenches
• Prepare surfaces using grit blast, hand and power abrasion techniques

Skills

Composite layup

Ply cutting machine

Laser projector layout

Engineering drawings reading

Attention to detail

Assembly experience

Grit blasting

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Torque wrenches

Job 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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

COMPOSITES LAMINATION TECHNICIAN

The composites production team is looking for talented individuals to join them! As a composites lamination technician, you will be responsible for building rocket and spacecraft structures. The task requires both high attention to detail and precision layup.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Laminate assemblies by determining proper placement of composite materials into molds
• Prepare parts for bagging, including placement of bleeders, thermocouples, probes and vacuum connections
• Perform vacuum bag processing, bonding, and oven/autoclave curing
• Make basic layouts on parts or assemblies in order to establish reference points and to check dimensions using calipers, micrometers, precision scales and torque wrenches
• Prepare surfaces using grit blast, hand abrade and power abrasion techniques

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 1+ years of assembly experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with composite materials in either layup (lamination), bonding or assembly of composites (prepreg or wet layup)
• Experience operating a ply cutting machine
• Experience operating a laser projector to layout laminated assemblies
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, an understanding for drawing symbols, flag notes and general notes
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, read travelers and standard operating procedures
• Attention to detail and accuracy while working within a fast-paced production environment

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing to work all required shift hours, overtime and weekends as needed.
• Shift Options:
  • 1st shift (est start time 5 am)
  • 2nd shift (est start time 3:30 pm)
• Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching are generally required to perform the functions of this position
• Able to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. unassisted
• Able to climb ladders and work in tight spaces

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

• Level 1: $22.00 - $24.50
• Level 2: $24.50 - $29.00
• Level 3: $28.50 - $35.00

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. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

• 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 .

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and 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 Affinitive Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury