Lead Production Automation Engineer

Rocket Lab; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Lead Production Automation Engineer for its Starlink user terminal factory. This role involves leading a multidisciplinary team to innovate in production automation, overseeing projects, and ensuring safety standards. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and relevant experience in automation or mechanical design, with opportunities for development in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in an automation or mechanical design role.
• Experience with production tooling design for high volume environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers to tackle design challenges.
• Track and oversee projects from initial request through implementation.
• Coordinate training and development for the larger engineering community.

Skills

Automation

Mechanical Design

Leadership

Collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT

SCADA

NX/Teamcenter

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.

LEAD PRODUCTION AUTOMATION ENGINEER (STARLINK)

SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable.

As the Lead Production Automation Engineer for the Starlink user terminal factory you will lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and specialists within the Starlink production organization. This team includes a broad array of skillsets including tooling mechanical design, fabrication, factory automation, test, product design, and electrical design. As primary point of contact for production automation and tooling projects you will collect inputs from partner teams both within and outside of the production organization, determine scope, priorities, and then delegate projects to the team effectively. You will serve as a trainer and technical resource while helping to level-up the skills for the broader Starlink production organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and specialists to tackle a diverse array of challenges encountered during the design, stand-up, and operation of a vertically integrated production line
• Ensure a strong focus is placed on safety and maintain an excellent safety record
• Track and oversee projects from initial request through successful implementation and validation. Monitor and communicate project status and risks to leadership
• Coordinate ongoing production support as required for the various skillset within the team
• Coordinate training and development for the larger engineering community in order to ‘level up’ the design, automation, and test capabilities of the production organization
• Establish operational standards and hold accountability to those standards
• Foster a spirit of collaboration within and between departments

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in an automation or mechanical design role

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Advanced degree in engineering
• Prior leadership experience
• Understanding of industrial electrical, control, and instrumentation systems
• Experience working with industrial software, including but not limited to Beckhoff TwinCAT, HMI, SCADA, IoT (MQTT, OPC-UA), Ignition, EtherCAT, Profinet, Profisafe, Ethernet/IP, RobotStudio,
• Experience developing ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant systems for robots, gantries, conveyors, and other manufacturing equipment
• Experience with production tooling design for high volume environments
• Experience with a 3D modelling software, especially NX/Teamcenter
• Experience applying GD&T
• Experience working in a high rate production environment
• Ability to adapt to a constantly changing work environment
• Demonstrated ability to drive change across a multidisciplinary production and engineering organization

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs. unassisted
• Able to travel to various SpaceX locations

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