Tooling Engineer for On‑Orbit AI Compute

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop (TX); Ibrido; USD 90.000 - 125.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

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.

Competenze

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

Mansioni

• 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.

Conoscenze

CNC machining

3D CAD

Cross-functional collaboration

Formazione

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

Strumenti

Siemens NX

Injection molding

CNC programming

Descrizione del lavoro

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

TOOLINGENGINEER,AI SATELLITES(STARMIND)

SpaceX isleveragingits experience deploying andoperatingthe world’s largest satellite constellation to developStarmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Realizing this vision demandshighly reliable,high performanceelectricalcomputehardware, solar power systems, thermal radiators, and more. These systems mustoperatein 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 partsrequiredto build internal tooling
• Analyze piece parts and assemblies for DFM to ensure that the parts areoptimizedfor manufacturing and assembly
• Create collaborative business plans with design engineering, upstreamproduction, andsupport teams and develop andmaintainpositive 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’.Leveragelatest technologies and programming strategies to reduce in-cycle intervention
• Identify, recommend,procure, and install machine shop equipment as well as ensure all equipment is thoroughlymaintainedand calibrated
• Responsible for cost optimization and cost reduction initiatives associated with fabrication and processes
• Continually develop and manage engineering capacity, schedules, and project plansin order tosupport production manifest as well as a diverse and variable R&D demand
• Research andidentifynew materials, manufacturing technologies and finishing options
• Inform estimations of prototype and production manufacturing costs - tooling, secondary assembly, secondaryfinishingand piece part
• Publish andmaintaindetailed 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 manufacturingprocesslike 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 Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out [e-mail] .

Apply for this job

indicates a required field

First Name *

Last Name *

Preferred First Name

Email *

Phone

Country *

Phone *

Location (City) *

Resume/CV *

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

School * Select...

Degree * Select...

Select...

LinkedIn Profile

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Attach additional content you'd like us to review with your application. Please combine multiple attachments into a single .zip file.

How did you hear about this job? * Select...

If event or other, please specify below.

Please specify

GPA (Undergraduate) * Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your undergraduate GPA.

GPA (Graduate) * Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your graduate GPA.

GPA (Doctorate) * Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your doctorate GPA.

SAT Score * Select...

Please indicate your test score on the 1600 or 2400 scale. Select "Did not take" if you have not taken the SAT.

ACT Score * Select...

Select "Did not take" if you have not taken the ACT.

GRE Score * Select...

Active Security Clearance(s) * Select...

SpaceX & SpaceXAI Employment History * Select...

This includes internships and full-time employment.

Can you perform all of the essential functions of this role with or without reasonable accommodations? * Select...

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? * Select...

Select...

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITARhere.

If (f) Other, please explain:

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 07/31/2029

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 07/31/2029
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.