NDE Operations Leader, 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

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.