Manufacturing Engineer, Tool & Die Machining

Spacex; Bastrop, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX Bastrop, TX is seeking an experienced Materials Engineer to manage a technical project for developing and qualifying tooling, equipment and processes to produce plastic molds and high-pressure die-cast tools. The role calls for evaluating traditional vs.

emerging technologies and applying a disciplined approach to select optimal solutions. Responsibilities include building in-house machining capabilities, performing DFM analyses, collaborating with design and production teams, and driving

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, materials engineering or similar.
• 3+ years of experience with CNC machining.
• Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Develop in-house machining capability for tools and die team.
• Analyze parts for DFM to optimize manufacturability.
• Collaborate with design, upstream production and suppliers.
• Maintain robust processes across manufacturing and design teams.
• Implement machining process controls and leverage new technologies.
• Identify and install machine shop equipment and maintain calibration.
• Support cost optimization for fabrication and processes.
• Manage project schedules and capacity to support production and R&D.

Skills

CNC machining

3D CAD

Siemens NX

Manufacturing process knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical/manufacturing/materials engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

Bastrop, TX

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

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.

Working directly in the materials engineering group, this position is responsible for managing a technical project for the development and qualification of all equipment, tooling and manufacturing process technologies necessary to produce plastic injection molds and high pressure die cast tools. The correct individual will bring an open mindset, challenge the status quo with regards to traditional vs. emerging technologies and utilize a logical and disciplined approach to evaluate and select the correct set of solutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop machining capability in-house for the tool & die team and deliver high-quality precision piece parts required to build internal tooling
• Analyze piece parts and assemblies for DFM to ensure that the parts are optimized for manufacturing and assembly
• Create collaborative business plans with design engineering, upstream production, and support teams and develop and maintain positive supplier/customer relationships
• Work between manufacturing and design engineers, machinists, technicians, and quality personnel to ensure processes are robust and any production problems are quickly solved
• Implement machining process controls that allow parts to run ‘lights out’. Leverage latest technologies and programming strategies to reduce in-cycle intervention
• Identify, recommend, procure, and install machine shop equipment as well as ensure all equipment is thoroughly maintained and calibrated
• Responsible for cost optimization and cost reduction initiatives associated with fabrication and processes
• Continually develop and manage engineering capacity, schedules, and project plans in order to support production manifest as well as a diverse and variable R&D demand
• Research and identify new materials, manufacturing technologies and finishing options
• Inform estimations of prototype and production manufacturing costs - tooling, secondary assembly, secondary finishing and piece part
• Publish and maintain detailed schedules for each development project segment

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, materials engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience with CNC machining

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering discipline
• Strong to expert level 3D CAD skills, including advanced surfacing and large assemblies
• Experience with Siemens NX
• Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and scaling to high volume as part of a cross‑functional team
• Experience with manufacturing process like injection molding, CNC, die casting, stamping, assembly, and box build in a production setting and a good understanding of the costs and schedule and complexity associated with each process

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors for significant/extended periods of time (~15% travel normally, more during urgent manufacturing and test campaigns)
• Ability to lift up to 25Ibs unassisted
• Standing/walking for long periods of time
• Willingness to work long hours and weekends as necessary to accommodate manufacturing and test campaigns
• 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 Afforitative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.