Critical Lift & Transport Technician (Crane Operations) - Night Shift

InvestedintheMission; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is hiring a Cranes Operations Technician (Night Shift) to lead precision lifting and movement of flight hardware at Cape Canaveral and related sites. You will operate cranes, inspect GSE, assist engineers, and ensure safety and quality in high-paced aerospace transport tasks.

The role requires hands-on maintenance of cranes, SPMTs, hydraulic systems, and rigging, with rigorous adherence to ITAR and safety standards in a demanding environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency.
• 1+ years of professional experience in critical lift or heavy haul operations.
• NCCCO/NCCER certifications in crane, rigging, ironworking and heavy equipment operations.
• Commercial driver’s license A with Hazmat endorsement.
• Experience in aerospace or automotive production.
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex fluid and mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with calibrated measurement devices (load cells, multimeters, calipers, torque wrenches, depth gauges).
• Strong MS Office knowledge (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Responsible for Falcon 9 stages, Payload, Dragon capsule, Starship and GSE movement.
• Perform preventative maintenance on mobile cranes, cranes and SPMTs.
• Work with a team to ensure transport systems are maintained with high quality.
• Utilize heavy machinery to lift and move flight hardware and GSE.
• Develop, document and coordinate work instructions for efficient packaging of hardware.
• Set up, inspect, operate and maintain hydraulic self-propelled modular transporters and crawler cranes.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Team communication

Multi-tasking

Safety-conscious

Education

Associate degree in aerospace technology

Tools

NCCCO/NCCER certifications

CDL-A with Hazmat endorsement

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 of enabling human life on Mars.

CRITICAL LIFT & TRANSPORT TECHNICIAN (CRANE OPERATIONS) – NIGHT SHIFT

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for Falcon 9 stages, Payload, Dragon capsule, Starship and associated ground support equipment (GSE) movement across Cape Canaveral and KSC launch site
• Perform preventative maintenance on mobile cranes, cranes and SPMTs
• Work with a team of technicians and engineers to ensure transport systems and equipment are maintained with the highest level of quality to support current and future manifest
• Utilize heavy machinery (forklift, telescopic, overhead crane) to lift and move flight hardware and associated GSE after delivery and prior to shipping
• Evaluate in-transit risks and provide on-site solutions to alleviate risk. Including: routes, repairs, escorts, and drivers – includes physical escorts across launch sites
• Pack up and organize cross country shipping fixtures and associated hardware for return to respective shipping site
• Perform preventative maintenance and repair of shipping fixtures and GSE
• Organize, procure and maintain tools needed to offload and pack up flight hardware
• Develop, document and coordinate work instructions with management team to ensure efficient packaging of flight hardware and equipment is maintained
• Perform route surveys prior to scheduled flight hardware moves
• Make recommendations to management to improve the health, timing, and safety of all movements
• Use various mechanical tools without instruction
• Troubleshoot operational issues found on vehicle pressure systems
• Maintain and install fluid system components from a schematic or drawing including ball and check valves, pressure regulator and gauges, etc.
• Set up, inspect, operate and perform maintenance on hydraulic self-propelled modular transporters, hydraulic booms and crawler cranes.
• Perform tear down and assembly of different configurations associated with Cranes and SPMTs
• Core traits that empower this success are strong written and oral communication skills, a meticulous attention to detail, an emphasis on safety, cleanliness, adherence to corporate policies and standards, and the ability to work with a team

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 1+ years of professional experience in critical lift or heavy haul operations

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Must be well organized and able to multi-task, detail oriented while also working within time constraints and deadlines
• 2+ years of experience with SPMTs operations and/or Hydraulic lift trailers
• 2+ years of Mobile hydraulic and/or Crawler cranes for delicate lifting operations (ex. Wind farms, power plants, oil refineries) and 2+ years of experience in rigging
• NCCCO/NCCER certifications in crane, rigging, ironworking and heavy equipment operations (ex. TLL, TSS, LAT, OVR, RIG-I-II, SGP)
• Commercial driver’s license A with Hazmat endorsement
• Excels at operating in an extremely fast paced and dynamic environment (schedules fluctuate often)
• Associate degree in aerospace technology or equivalent area of study
• Experience within aerospace or automotive production
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex fluid and mechanical systems
• Familiarity with calibrated measurement devices including load cells, multimeters, calipers, torque wrenches, depth gauges, and micrometers
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
• Ability to work one of the following shifts:
  
  • Monday - Friday 5:00pm - 3:30am
• Able to lift 35 lbs. unassisted
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position
• Ability to work at elevated heights (up to 300 feet), including the use of ladder
• Ability to work in confined spaces
• Willingness to operate heavy machinery such as forklifts and overhead cranes
• Travel to other sites will be required, up to 10% of the time
• Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain, ice
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise

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.

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 Affinitve Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].