Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Machining (Starship)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

A leading aerospace manufacturer in Hawthorne is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Engineer to lead the development of machining capabilities for Starship components. This role involves conducting Design for Manufacturability analyses and overseeing quality investigations. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's in engineering or physics, have over 5 years of machining experience, and leadership experience is preferred. The company offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits including stock options, medical coverage, and paid vacation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of machining experience required.
• Experience transitioning products from R&D to production essential.
• Must be available for long hours and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of machining capabilities for Starship components.
• Conduct Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analyses.
• Oversee quality issue investigations and resolutions.

Skills

Machining experience

CNC programming

Leadership in manufacturing

GD&T proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

CNC machines

Conventional lathe and mill machines

Job description

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Machining (Starship)

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.

As an engineer at SpaceX, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. You will work on hardware that will deliver satellites into earth orbit, ferry humans to and from the international space station, and ultimately extend humanity’s reach beyond the earth and moon. You will own the relationship between our engineering and production teams. You will provide input into the design and development of new and existing hardware and take a lead role in manufacturing and integration within production on our current and next generation vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and expansion of in-house machining capabilities for the SpaceX Starship components team, ensuring the delivery of high‑precision, mission‑critical piece parts to factory assembly lines with unwavering quality and efficiency.
• Conduct advanced Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analyses on piece parts and assemblies, optimizing designs for seamless manufacturing, assembly, and testing while driving innovation in production scalability.
• Foster strategic feedback loops with downstream operations, including design, testing, and integration teams, to champion product success, enable rapid iterative improvements, and mitigate risks proactively.
• Oversee the investigation and resolution of quality issues from piece part inspections, authorizing dispositions for out‑of‑tolerance conditions through rigorous root‑cause analysis, informed by comprehensive use‑case evaluations, assembly impacts, and testing protocols.
• Spearhead the identification, procurement, installation, and ongoing maintenance of machine shop equipment, including calibration protocols, to sustain peak operational performance and compliance with industry‑leading standards.
• Direct the overarching strategy for capital expenditures (CapEx), staffing models, equipment specifications, production layouts, training programs, and advanced machining processes, continuously evolving them to align with evolving mission objectives and technological advancements.
• Champion cost optimization and reduction initiatives across fabrication and manufacturing processes, leveraging data‑driven insights to achieve significant savings without compromising quality or safety.
• Innovate and refine manufacturing and fabrication methodologies, techniques, and best practices, integrating cutting‑edge tools and automation to enhance throughput, precision, and sustainability.
• Strategically recommend and implement enhancements to operational sequences, equipment utilization, and workflow efficiencies, resulting in measurable gains in productivity and resource allocation.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with other SpaceX machine shop facilities and external partners to harmonize capabilities, resolve capacity constraints, optimize scheduling, and cultivate a shared ecosystem of resources for enterprise‑wide scalability.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics
• 5+ years of machining experience
• Experience with taking products from research and development into production

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree or PhD in an engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership position in a manufacturing environment
• Experience setting up and operating state‑of‑the‑art machining equipment
• Well versed in standard machine shop manufacturing processes and set ups
• Experience operating CNCs, conventional lathe and mill machines, and other machine shop equipment used to manufacture high‑precision parts
• Demonstrated proficiency in CNC programming (lathes and mills)
• Well versed in GD&T and inspection procedures
• Highly experienced with a variety of precision conventional and advanced metrology systems (photogrammetry, CMMs, 3D imaging)

Additional Requirements

• Available to work long hours and weekends as needed
• Must be comfortable stooping, bending, and standing
• Lift/Carry: Up to 25 lbs. (unassisted) 1-2 hours per day

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range: Manufacturing Engineer/Senior: $130,000.00 - $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, stock options, 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.

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].