Starship Test Lead: Production Checkout & Team Leadership

SpaceX; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Test Specialist Supervisor to lead a team of test specialists performing production checkouts on Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. You will prioritize safety, quality, and data integrity while coordinating across stations and campaigns.

The role demands strong leadership, hands-on involvement with the team, and the ability to optimize labor resources and schedules in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years of experience in production test, vehicle checkout, or final assembly.
• 2+ years of experience in leading a team or a project.
• Experience applying lean manufacturing principles and efficiency methods.

Responsibilities

• Supervise production checkout activity across shop floor stations and cells, including daily schedules, vehicle configuration, and workflow
• Lead and manage a staff of ~8 test specialists including all performance management related tasks
• Review test plans, procedures, and as-runs and make change recommendations when needed
• Assess and vet appropriate skillsets as needed across avionics and propulsion checkouts, leak checks, data review, and test procedure authoring
• Identify training needs and develop training programs
• Provide required data and reporting to support departmental metrics and improvement objectives, including checkout durations and safety standard incorporation
• Monitor labor hours and overtime, and implement improvement plans and time management with staff
• Accomplish checkout results by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job results
• Effectively organize, assign and track work/deliverables for the team, ensuring seamless progression through multi-shift and multi-station vehicle schedules
• Initiate and foster a spirit of cooperation within and between departments
• Ensure checkouts safety, quality, data integrity, and conformance to specifications and flight worthiness requirements
• Maintain GSE, test equipment, gage, and consumable supply inventory
• Improve area safety and efficiency through regular auditing and continuous improvement of frequent procedures, including clears, LOTO, and press/vent operations
• Continuously improve process and manpower efficiency, utilization and productivity

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen

Six Sigma

Communication

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Safety culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Test Specialist Supervisor to lead a team of test specialists performing production checkouts on Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. You will prioritize safety, quality, and data integrity while coordinating across stations and campaigns.

The role demands strong leadership, hands-on involvement with the team, and the ability to optimize labor resources and schedules in a fast-paced aerospace environment.