Manager, NDE Operations (Starship Mechanisms)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term incentives (stock)

Medical, vision, dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

3 weeks paid vacation

10+ paid holidays

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA seeks a Manager of NDE Operations (Starship Mechanisms) to lead the NDE team across multiple centers, ensuring timely inspections and high-quality hardware for Starship stages. You will drive lean processes, coach inspectors, and partner with engineering and production to meet aggressive schedules.

The role requires strong leadership, extensive NDE experience, and the ability to adapt to rapid changes while maintaining SpaceX values and safety standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in an NDE or quality-focused organization.
• 3+ years leading inspectors in an operations/manufacturing environment.
• Experience conducting or leading inspections in production for flight and development hardware.
• Leadership experience managing a large team across multiple locations.
• Excellent communication and team-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team of NDE supervisors, specialists, and inspectors across multiple resource centers.
• Identify process improvements to keep operations lean and measurable.
• Ensure adequate training plans for career growth and SpaceX needs.
• Collaborate with NDE Engineering, Production, Build Reliability, and Design Engineering.
• Develop team-wide metrics aligned with cross-functional goals.
• Manage capital and operating expenditures for the NDE Operations team.
• Maintain a safe, positive work environment and promote SpaceX culture.

Skills

Leadership

NDE inspections

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or materials science

Tools

NDE Level II certification (ASNT NAS-410)

AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

Job description

Manager, NDE Operations (Starship Mechanisms)

Hawthorne, CA

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.

MANAGER, NDE OPERATIONS (STARSHIP MECHANISMS)

The Manager of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) Operations leads the team, which performs complex inspection operations on SpaceX hardware. In this role, you'll oversee and advance Starship’s mechanisms, components, and welding build centers, focusing on producing large stainless-steel structures and sub-assemblies for orbital and interplanetary variants of the rocket’s stages.

Key responsibilities include quality of the hardware and understanding how inspections performed ensure and enable hardware quality is critical. The leader will be responsible for ensuring that inspectors are available when needed and that inspections are performed in a timely and efficient manner. Inspection should not hold up the flow of hardware unless flaws are found and corrective actions are necessary.

SpaceX is a very dynamic environment, as an organization that always challenges itself to do newer and more difficult things. This leader must be able to adapt to rapidly changing requirements, schedule pressures, and shifts in company focus. This position requires a strong people manager, who enables SpaceX to achieve its goals by investing in the people who work here, providing career growth opportunities, and valuable feedback to all team members.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the team of NDE supervisors, specialists, and inspectors on the floor and provide daily support for all NDE inspections in multiple NDE resource centers across production teams
• Identify process improvements, and ensure operations are lean, efficient, and effective. Develop appropriate metrics and goals for each resource center and work with supervisors and the team to achieve improved results
• Assess employee performance, providing positive and constructive feedback. Ensure adequate training plans are available for all employees to enable career growth and to meet SpaceX needs
• Work with cross-functional partners such as NDE Engineering, Production, Build Reliability, and Design Engineering to support achievement of company goals
• Develop team-wide metrics to align team goals and priorities with cross-functional leaders. Hold team members accountable for execution and continuous improvement in their area of ownership
• Manage capital and operational expenditures for the NDE Operations team
• Maintain a positive, safe, and healthy work environment and continually promote SpaceX culture and values

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 5+ years of professional experience in an NDE or quality-focused organization
• 3+ years leading inspectors in an operations/manufacturing environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience conducting or leading inspections in production for flight and development hardware
• Nondestructive Evaluation Level II certification in line with ASNT TC-1A, NAS-410, or DOD guidance in one of the following methods: Eddy current (ET), radiography (RT), digital radiography (DR), dye penetrant (PT), visual inspection (VT), computed radiography (CR), phase array (PAUT), ultrasonic (UT), ultrasonic shear wave (UTSW), or magnetic particle (MT)
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, materials science, or in technical management
• Leadership experience managing a large team operating in multiple locations
• Experience in the NDE industry managing inspectors/supervisors
• A proven track record of leadership and team building within a rapidly changing environment
• Excellent communication to all levels of the organization, team-building skills, and the ability to influence
• Experience interfacing with multiple stakeholder organizations (Engineering, Production, Fabrication) to effectively execute tasks to meet aggressive deadlines
• Knowledge and understanding of NASA 5009, NAS 410 and SNT TC-1-A standards
• American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel to remote sites as needed (10-20%)
• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Manager: $140,000.00 - $180,000.00/per year

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.

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