Cryogenic ASU Operator – Space Propellant Plant

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is hiring a Process Operator Specialist for the Air Separation Unit (ASU) at Starbase. You will operate and support cryogenic distillation, turboexpanders, and high‑purity LOX production under guidance, monitoring parameters, and following procedures to ensure safe, reliable operations.

The role offers hands‑on experience with critical propellant systems, shift work, and continuous improvement through training gates and 5S practices.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• 1+ years of experience working in an industrial environment or plant operations dealing with air separation units, cryogenics, industrial gases, chemical, or oil & gas.
• Experience using P&IDs and/or process flow diagrams as part of work (isolation or LOTO boundary definition, valve lineups, troubleshooting, or field rounds against drawings).
• Hands‑on experience in a cryogenic plant, industrial gas facility, chemical plant, utilities plant, launch pad, or propellant farm.
• Exposure to compressors, pumps, heat exchangers, or other industrial rotating / process equipment.
• Experience with a Distributed Control System (Honeywell, Siemens, Rockwell, or equivalent) and/or HMI operation.
• Familiarity with mechanical equipment isolation or basic maintenance on industrial rotating machinery.
• Experience with lockout/tagout, job hazard analysis, hot work permitting, confined space, or Process Safety Management (PSM) practices.
• Familiarity with 120V and 480V industrial electrical equipment (medium‑voltage experience is a plus).
• Track record of catching equipment or process issues early and raising them to the shift lead.
• Experience in shift operations (nights, weekends, or 24/7) in an industrial environment.
• Interest in learning process behavior from first principles (thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat/mass transfer).

Responsibilities

• Monitor the ASU via distributed control system/human-machine interface and conduct thorough field rounds, identifying equipment and process deviations early and reporting them immediately
• Execute assigned steps of plant startups, shutdowns, mode changes, and abnormal situation response in accordance with approved operating procedures and alarm response matrices
• Support troubleshooting, maintenance, and calibration of ASU equipment including centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, turboexpanders, cryogenic distillation columns, molecular sieve beds, gas analyzers, control valves, and instrumented electrical systems
• Collect process samples, perform basic field testing, log operational data accurately, and elevate immediately when plant conditions do not match the procedure
• Execute lockout/tagout (LOTO), permit‑to‑work, job hazard analyses, and Process Safety Management (PSM) activities as trained and authorized, and maintain rigorous 5S, housekeeping, and visual management
• Learn and qualify on standard operating procedures for major ASU systems, support shift pass‑down, and participate in continuous improvement in reliability, purity, and housekeeping
• Learn and qualify on standard operating procedures for major ASU systems; build understanding of cryogenic thermodynamics, distillation, adsorption, and equipment performance through the ASU training and qualification gates
• Support shift pass‑down and leave the board and field ready for the following shift; participate in continuous improvement in reliability, purity, and housekeeping

Skills

Field operations

Cryogenic plant

ASU experience

DCS/HMI use

LOTO & safety

Process monitoring

Instrumentation

Education

High school diploma

Job description

SpaceX is hiring a Process Operator Specialist for the Air Separation Unit (ASU) at Starbase. You will operate and support cryogenic distillation, turboexpanders, and high‑purity LOX production under guidance, monitoring parameters, and following procedures to ensure safe, reliable operations.

The role offers hands‑on experience with critical propellant systems, shift work, and continuous improvement through training gates and 5S practices.