Principal Water Treatment Engineer, Solar Cell Factory

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Principal Water Treatment Engineer for the Starlink manufacturing program. This role involves ensuring optimal operations of ultrapure process water plants supporting manufacturing lines. Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in engineering and have over 10 years of relevant experience.

The successful applicant will lead system designs and engage with various teams across the organization, ensuring high standards of quality and safety are met. This position offers the chance to significantly contribute to SpaceX's mission of making life multi-planetary.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment or with fluids/mechanical/electromechanical design and analysis.
• 12+ years hands-on project experience in wastewater treatment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and productionize mechanical and fluid systems that meet SpaceX and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and improve operational procedures, methods, and process equipment.
• Champion continuous improvement projects.

Skills

Mechanical and fluid systems design

Data analysis and interpretation

Continuous improvement project management

Partnership and collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or science

Tools

2D and 3D CAD

Job description

Principal Water Treatment Engineer, Solar Cell Factory

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 of enabling human life on Mars.

SpaceX is developing a low‑latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers worldwide. 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. We are looking for talented, creative, and driven engineers to drive tools and processes from initial concept development to full‑scale production. You will drive the relationship between engineering, development, and production teams and will interact regularly with senior leadership during critical design phases. The success of Starlink depends on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, security, and user experience of the products you deliver.

As a Principal Water Treatment Engineer on the Starlink manufacturing program, you will take ownership for activating, qualifying, optimizing, and ensuring the consistency of operations for an ultrapure process water plant supporting our printed circuit board, silicon packaging, and solar cell manufacturing lines. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and operationalization of equipment, facilities, tooling, and manufacturing process technologies necessary for high‑volume production. Your work forms the backbone for millions of next‑generation devices used all over the world. For homes, schools, businesses, vehicles, planes, or boats, this team plays an instrumental role in ensuring high‑speed connectivity is available to all who need it.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate extreme ownership in the construction, activation, and operation of a new commercial ultrapure process water treatment facility
• Design, implement, and productionize mechanical and fluid systems that meet SpaceX and regulatory requirements
• Interpret lab analysis, data streams, and operator feedback to effectively maintain safe and effective plant operations
• Develop, implement, maintain, and improve operational procedures, methods, and process equipment
• Form strong partnerships with internal and external counterparts, including but not limited to manufacturing operations and engineering, environment health and safety (EHS), facilities construction and maintenance teams, representatives of regulatory bodies, OEM equipment manufacturers, and supplier representatives
• Identify and champion continuous improvement projects
• Develop project plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analysis for implementation of new processes or machines
• Monitor and communicate area status and risks

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline
• 10+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment or with fluids/mechanical/electromechanical design and analysis

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 12+ years hands‑on project experience in wastewater treatment
• Experience with process parameters and engineering units for temperature, pressure, flow, and power
• Ability to read and understand process PFDs, P&IDs, 2D and 3D CAD drawings, construction drawings, and BOMs
• Experience with mechanical equipment and systems requiring isolation of the malfunction, disassembly of industrial machinery, and repair/replacement of bearings, gears, structural components
• Experience with lock out tag out, job hazard analysis, and hot work permittingExperience applying lean manufacturing principles
• Experience taking products from research and development into production

Additional Requirements

• Able to work all shifts and available for weekends as needed
• Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching may be required to perform the functions of this position
• Able to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
• Able to work outside with hand tools
• Able to stand, climb, walk and work with objects overhead
• 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

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.