Build Specialist (Starship)

About the role

SpaceX is hiring a Build Specialist to join the Starbase team working on Starship, the vehicle designed to make humanity multi-planetary. You will drive manufacturing excellence across production builds, working closely with engineers and technicians to improve processes, remove blockers, and keep assembly lines moving efficiently. This role demands hands-on problem solving in a demanding outdoor environment at the southernmost tip of Texas.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Partner with production leadership to establish and maintain engineering standards for quality, build sequencing, and continuous improvement
• Work directly with engineers and technicians to streamline manufacturing flow and eliminate unnecessary scope, downtime, and blockers
• Build and maintain scheduling tools that identify critical paths, dependencies, and track progress across successive builds
• Review work order feedback and coordinate with process planning to incorporate changes into active orders and future engineering masters
• Support first-build process development for new or changing assembly designs, including equipment design and development builds
• Identify shop aids, tooling needs, and floor layout improvements that increase productivity and organization
• Communicate project status, milestones, and roadmaps to stakeholders on a regular basis
• Resolve manufacturing issues, disposition nonconforming parts, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions
• Develop standard practices, troubleshooting guides, and repair procedures
• Evaluate proposed designs for manufacturability in collaboration with build, design, and reliability engineers
• Recommend and design tooling improvements based on data analysis to support rate production
• Create work orders, engineering masters, and manufacturing resource planning documentation
• Coordinate with external vendors, manufacturing engineers, and technicians across production groups

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate plus 2+ years of hands-on manufacturing experience, OR a bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or science
• Willingness to work all shifts, overtime, and weekends as needed
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
• Ability to stand for extended periods (minimum 8 hours)
• Ability to work at heights up to 500 feet and in confined spaces
• Ability to use an air purifying respirator
• Willingness to work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, and environments with fumes, odors, and noise
• Willingness to travel up to 5%
• May be required to complete a pre-employment physical and medical history review

Nice to have

• Associate or bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or science
• 2+ years in manufacturing and process planning
• Experience working effectively in team environments
• Ability to solve complex manufacturing problems independently or as part of an integrated team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with internal and external stakeholders
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving experience
• Understanding of spacecraft integration processes including avionics, propulsion systems, and mechanical integration
• Data analysis skills using Excel, VBA, or SQL
• Knowledge of pressure, temperature, and flow measurement devices
• Experience taking products from development through full-volume production
• Design for manufacturability and assembly experience
• Proficiency with Siemens NX (UG), Teamcenter CAD, and PDM systems
• Experience with process development, facility layouts, and line layouts
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing tools: PFMEA, Value Chain Mapping, Kanban, OEE, 5S

Skills & tools

• Manufacturing process planning
• Work order and engineering master creation
• Tooling design
• Root cause analysis
• Siemens NX, Teamcenter CAD, PDM systems
• Excel, VBA, SQL
• Lean Manufacturing methodologies

Practical notes

• Due to ITAR regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
• Physical demands include standing up to 3 hours, sitting up to 6 hours, walking up to 3 hours, overhead reaching up to 3 hours, climbing ladders/stairs up to 1 hour, and pushing/pulling up to 50 lbs for up to 15 minutes daily
• Work in temperatures over 80 degrees may occur up to 30 minutes per day
• Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact EEOCompliance@spacex.com