Welding Supervisor (Super Heavy Booster)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Welding Supervisor for the Super Heavy Booster project. The role involves leading a team of welders, maintaining high safety and quality standards, and managing a dynamic production schedule.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in welding and leadership, with strong organizational and communication skills. Join a company dedicated to advancing human exploration in space.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree or 5+ years of experience in welding.
• 2+ years of experience in a leadership position.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of welders and technicians.
• Maintain production schedule and deliver assignments.
• Provide technical mentorship and recruitment support.

Skills

Leadership

Welding techniques (GTAW, FCAW, GMAW)

Effective communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or associate degree or 5+ years of welding experience

2+ years of experience in a leadership role

Tools

Welding equipment

Mechanical drawings

Job description

Welding Supervisor (Super Heavy Booster)

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.

The Hawthorne Aft Thermal Protection System production team is responsible for building, assembling, and welding all thermal protection subassemblies for the world’s most powerful rocket, Starship. The supervisor of this team will guide a team of welders and technicians in building a brand‑new welding workcenter, drive high‑quality and safety standards, grow welding expertise, generate creative solutions to overcome issues, and spearhead a production schedule to keep downstream integration areas supplied at increasing launch rates.

Responsibilities

• Manage an hourly workforce of welders and technicians. Deliver daily work assignments, oversee personnel development by providing constructive feedback, facilitate conflict resolution, and address repeat issues with corrective actions.
• Create and maintain a tight production schedule and provide clear daily assignments to the team.
• Recruit and develop new welders and technicians in the shop. Provide technical mentorship and support to the team.
• Track shop floor metrics and partner with engineering to maximize delivery rate through high asset utilization, low cycle times, and high yield build processes.
• Collaborate with management and engineering teams to streamline work processes, resolve common build issues, and optimize the production line.
• Lead by setting an example; take feedback from all levels of the organization, and motivate your organization to achieve the highest level of results (in safety, quality, and rate).
• Drive shop floor culture of continuous improvement and maintain 5S protocols.
• Ensure employee safety through regular assessments of equipment/tooling health, training, PPE use, and implementation of engineering solutions to mitigate risks. Prioritize personnel safety above all else, halting production when necessary.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree or 5+ years of experience in a welding role (GTAW, FCAW, GMAW, etc.)
• 2+ years of experience in a leadership role

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of AWS D1.1, D1.6, and D1.2
• General welding, cutting, and fabrication equipment knowledge
• Experience building, leading and consistently maintaining cohesive teams
• Organized and self‑driven, capable of working independently with little direction in a fast‑paced/cross‑functional environment
• Ability to read, interpret controlled documentation, and processes such as mechanical drawings, GD&T, assembly procedures/work instructions, schematics, engineering drawings, parts lists, wiring diagrams, layout drawings, etc.
• Experience effectively communicating (verbal and written) with both production and engineering teams

Additional Requirements

• Willing to work overtime and weekends when necessary
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 lbs unassisted
• Must be able to stoop, bend, crawl and maneuver in tight spaces. Must be able to stand for extended periods of time – 8 hours min

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range: Supervisor: $110,000 – $140,000 per year.

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 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.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or asylees under 8 U.S.C. § 1158.

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.