Sr. Automation & Controls Engineer (Starship)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Cape Canaveral, FL is seeking a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer (Starship) to design and activate the electrical and control systems for our launch facility. The role is hands-on, joining a team of elite engineers building Starship and supporting ground systems for production and flight tests.

Responsibilities include PLC programming, SCADA and HMI work, hardware layouts, and integration with data acquisition, ensuring NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required.
• 5+ years in instrumentation power systems, data acquisition, or PLCs.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems for launch operations.
• Architect, write, and debug PLC code for manufacturing apps.
• Design controls network interfaces and data acquisition.
• Maintain SCADA infrastructure at launch sites.
• Layout NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant panels; create schematics.
• Manage electrical cabinets, wiring, and pneumatics/plumbing.
• Oversee checkouts and activation testing of new equipment.
• Create robust procedures for technicians.
• Provide troubleshooting for ground support equipment.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Electrical design

Python

C#

SQL

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics or related

Tools

EPlan

SIEMENS TIA Portal

Ignition

Job description

Cape Canaveral, FL

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.

SR. AUTOMATION & CONTROLS ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket (collectively referred to as Starship) represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship will be the world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tons to Earth orbit. The launch hardware Automation & Controls Engineer role will be hands‑on in designing and activating the systems that build and launch Starship. The successful applicant will work as part of a team of elite engineers designing and improving the electrical and control systems across our rocket launch facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in the design and development of new and existing control systems critical to the launch organization
• Architect, write, and debug PLC code, emphasizing generating organized, structured, documented, maintainable, and reusable code for manufacturing applications
• Design and implement the controls network infrastructure and interfaces to data acquisition systems trading cost, complexity and redundancy
• Design, operate, upgrade, and maintain SCADA infrastructure at launch and production sites
• Layout new industrial electrical control panels that are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant and create electrical, pneumatic, and fluid schematics
• Manage electrical cabinet builds, field wiring, pneumatic and fluid plumbing
• Manage the checkouts and activation testing of new equipment
• Write robust and scalable procedures to activate technicians to quickly and reliably build and activate new control systems
• Provide hands on troubleshooting support for a variety of active and critical ground support equipment tooling
• Provide innovative solutions to special requirements and challenges faced by the team, which can range from integrating specialized equipment to challenging operating environment, packaging or loading

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechatronics engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience with instrumentation power systems design, data acquisition systems, or programmable controllers (internship/project experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Proficiency or direct hands‑on experience in one or more of the following: electronics test rack design and build, data acquisition setup and field measurements, build of electronics systems or test systems for local assembly or industrial applications
• Exposure to a wide variety of production machinery, industrial sensors, and equipment (vision systems, dispense systems, temperature controllers, laser distance sensors, Nut‑Runners, etc)
• Hands‑on experience building and commissioning high quality electrical control panels and electro‑mechanical systems
• Electrical schematic CAD experience using EPlan
• C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience
• PLC programming experience, preferably Siemens TIA Portal
• HMI and SCADA programming experience, preferably with Ignition software
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 79, UL508A codes
• Able to collaborate with a wide range of people and effectively work in a team in a high‑pressure, dynamic environment
• Able to work in a fast‑paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
• Must be willing to work weekends and night shifts as needed; flexibility required
• Must be willing to travel to other launch sites in support of operational activities and launches; travel requirement is up to 15%
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (aka green card holder), Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or 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].