Lead Engineer, Development Operations (Starlink)

Spacex; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Lead Engineer for the Development Operations shop in Bastrop to own the engineering stack from concept through fab and handoff. You will mentor engineers, drive DFM, GD&T, and fixture development to meet program milestones.

The role requires hands-on floor time, strong CAD/analysis skills (NX, Teamcenter), and a demonstrated record of delivering hardware on schedule in a high‑mix environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline.
• 2+ years leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team.
• 3+ years hands-on design, analysis, build, and/or manufacturing of mechanical or electromechanical hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Development Operations engineering team (Build Engineers and design/DFM ICs): hire, coach, set goals, and raise the bar on quality, throughput, and schedule
• Own design for manufacturability from concept through fab: original CAD, GD&T, design reviews, and design changes that reduce cost, complexity, and cycle time
• Own fixtures, tooling, workholding, and mechanical catalog items (cells, conveyors, buffers, stands) from raw material through handoff to the customer program
• Act as technical decision maker for the shop engineering stack — what we make, how we make it, and when we push a design back to the RE
• Partner with Development Supervisors on intake, queue, and expedite
• Partner with CNC programmers, machinists, welders, ACE specialists, and inventory
• Drive NCR, root cause, and corrective action on non-conforming product (tooling, cells, fixtures, piece parts)
• Create and maintain build documentation: procedures, MBOMs, integration instructions, and planning that technicians and vendors can execute
• Interface with supply chain and vendors so piece parts and sub-assemblies hit rate
• Present look-ahead with a recommendation (options, capacity, risk)
• Support Development Test with fixtures and fab

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring engineers

Hands-on problem solving

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

NX CAD

SolidWorks

Teamcenter

PLM

FEM/FEA

DFMEA/PFMEA

CNC / weld / fab processes

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.

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system — thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together.

Development Operations in Bastrop is the shop that turns engineering intent into hardware: fixtures, tooling, CNC, weld, modular automation cells, and the mechanical catalog that factory and test programs pull from. We are looking for a Lead Engineer to own that engineering stack — design, DFM, and the engineers who run it — so programs hit schedule without a hero on every job.

This role encompasses design, analysis, and manufacturing. You will spearhead large-scope projects from early design trades through fab and handoff. You will define processes, drive requirements, and set the design bar (GD&T, NX, fixtures that the mill can actually cut). You partner with Development Supervisors who own technician people ops.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the Development Operations engineering team (Build Engineers and design/DFM ICs): hire, coach, set goals, and raise the bar on quality, throughput, and schedule
• Own design for manufacturability from concept through fab: original CAD, GD&T, design reviews, and design changes that reduce cost, complexity, and cycle time
• Own fixtures, tooling, workholding, and mechanical catalog items (cells, conveyors, buffers, stands) from raw material through handoff to the customer program
• Act as technical decision maker for the shop engineering stack — what we make, how we make it, and when we push a design back to the RE
• Partner with Development Supervisors on intake, queue, and expedite
• Partner with CNC programmers, machinists, welders, ACE specialists, and inventory
• Drive NCR, root cause, and corrective action on non-conforming product (tooling, cells, fixtures, piece parts)
• Create and maintain build documentation: procedures, MBOMs, integration instructions, and planning that technicians and vendors can execute
• Interface with supply chain and vendors so piece parts and sub-assemblies hit rate
• Present look-ahead with a recommendation (options, capacity, risk)
• Support Development Test with fixtures and fab

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
• 2+ year leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team
• 3+ years of hands‑on design, analysis, build, and/or manufacturing of mechanical or electromechanical hardware

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of experience with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept through fab and handoff
• Design for manufacturability (DFM/DFA) with design teams — including pushing back on over-constrained CAD
• GD&T you can inspect
• Fixtures, tooling, weldments, or modular automation / material-handling equipment
• CNC, conventional machining, or weld/fab process
• FEA / first-principles structures calcs on tooling and stands
• NX and Teamcenter (or equivalent PLM)
• DFMEA / PFMEA
• Vendor fab, NCR, and cross‑functional schedule pressure with incomplete requirements
• Strong desire to mentor engineers
• High‑mix development shop

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Hands‑on: time on the floor with hardware, not only in CAD
• Willing to work weekends and extended hours as needed for program milestones
• Occasional travel to other SpaceX sites

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 Aff…? or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].