Tooling Engineer, AI Satellites (Starmind)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Tooling Engineer for the Starmind program to own the manufacturing line for high-performance tooling and hardware used in on-orbit AI compute.

You will coordinate with design engineering, upstream production, and suppliers to optimize tooling, ensure DFM across parts, and drive cost-efficient fabrication while meeting mission-critical timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of experience with CNC machining.

Responsibilities

• Develop in-house machining capability for tool and die parts.
• Analyze parts for DFM to optimize manufacturability.
• Collaborate with design, upstream production, and suppliers.
• Coordinate with machinists, technicians, and QA to resolve production issues.
• Implement process controls to enable lights-out machining.
• Identify and install tooling equipment and maintain calibration.
• Support cost optimization and fabrication improvements.
• Manage engineering capacity, schedules, and project plans.
• Research new materials and manufacturing methods.
• Estimate prototype and production tooling costs.
• Publish detailed schedules for development workstreams.

Skills

CNC machining

3D CAD

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

Tools

Siemens NX

Injection molding

CNC programming

Job description

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.

TOOLINGENGINEER,AI SATELLITES(STARMIND)

SpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world’s largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Realizing this vision demands highly reliable, high performance electrical compute hardware, solar power systems, thermal radiators, and more. These systems must operate in the extreme environment of space while delivering the connectivity, control, power distribution, and processing needed for orbital AI inference.

The Starmind team designs, builds, and operates the orbital compute fabric of the future. We develop nearly every key piece of technology in house – from the satellites’ flight computers and power systems to the fully custom compute electronics, memory, and networking that form the brain of our on-orbit data centers. As a Tooling Engineer on the Starmind team, you’ll have ownership over the entire manufacturing line for the hardware that enables advanced on-orbit AI processing and data center workloads. Your work spans the assembly, integration, and testing of industry-leading compute electronics, memory, and networking in order to achieve required domain sizes and processing workloads.

Responsibilities

• Develop machining capability in-house for the tool & die team and deliver high-quality precision piece parts required to build internal tooling
• Analyze piece parts and assemblies for DFM to ensure that the parts are optimized for manufacturing and assembly
• Create collaborative business plans with design engineering, upstream production, and support teams and develop and maintain positive supplier/customer relationships
• Work between manufacturing and design engineers, machinists, technicians, and quality personnel to ensure processes are robust and any production problems are quickly solved
• Implement machining process controls that allow parts to run ‘lights out’. Leverage latest technologies and programming strategies to reduce in-cycle intervention
• Identify, recommend, procure, and install machine shop equipment as well as ensure all equipment is thoroughly maintained and calibrated
• Responsible for cost optimization and cost reduction initiatives associated with fabrication and processes
• Continually develop and manage engineering capacity, schedules, and project plans in order to support production manifest as well as a diverse and variable R&D demand
• Research and identify new materials, manufacturing technologies and finishing options
• Inform estimations of prototype and production manufacturing costs - tooling, secondary assembly, secondary finishing and piece part
• Publish and maintain detailed schedules for each development project segment

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience with CNC machining

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering discipline
• Strong to expert level 3D CAD skills, including advanced surfacing and large assemblies
• Experience with Siemens NX
• Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and scaling to high volume as part of a cross-functional team
• Experience with manufacturing processes like injection molding, CNC, die casting, stamping, assembly, and box build in a production setting and a good understanding of the costs and schedule and complexity associated with each process

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
• 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 Aff… or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].