Critical Lift & Transport Technician (Crane Operations) - Day Shift

SpaceX
Cape Canaveral, FL
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward candidates with hands-on experience in heavy machinery operations and a background in critical lift or transport, comfortable with working in extreme outdoor environments and maintaining complex fluid systems.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on experience in SPMTs and crane operations in high-stakes environments
    — “2+ years of Mobile hydraulic and/or Crawler cranes for delicate lifting operations”
  • Individuals who thrive in dynamic, safety-focused environments with shifting schedules
    — “Excels at operating in an extremely fast paced and dynamic environment”
  • Technicians with a track record of organizing tools and developing efficient work instructions
    — “Develop, document and coordinate work instructions with management team”

Things to consider

  • Must be eligible for an Air Force background check and meet ITAR export regulations
    — “Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral”
  • Up to 10% of the role involves travel to other sites
    — “Travel to other sites will be required, up to 10% of the time”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with fluid system maintenance and hydraulic equipment in resume and interviews
    — “Maintain and install fluid system components from a schematic or drawing”
  • Emphasize ability to work in extreme outdoor conditions and confined spaces
    — “Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain, ice”
  • Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office tools for documentation and coordination
    — “Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)”
  • Showcase ability to evaluate and mitigate in-transit risks through prior experience or training
    — “Evaluate in-transit risks and provide on-site solutions to alleviate risk”
  • Demonstrate experience with route surveys and logistics planning for critical hardware transport
    — “Perform route surveys prior to scheduled flight hardware moves”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • performing preventative maintenance on mobile cranes
  • developing work instructions for efficient packaging of flight hardware
Typical background
1+ years of professional experience in critical lift or heavy haul operations

Skills & requirements

Required

Heavy Machinery OperationPreventative MaintenanceSPMT OperationsRiggingFluid System MaintenanceHydraulic Systems

Preferred

Nccco/nccer CertificationsCommercial Driver’s License A With Hazmat Endorsement

Stack & domain

Spmts OperationsHydraulic Lift TrailersMobile Hydraulic CranesCrawler CranesForkliftTelescopic CraneOverhead CraneFluid System ComponentsBall And Check ValvesPressure RegulatorGaugeHydraulic Self-propelled Modular TransportersHydraulic BoomsNccco/nccer CertificationsCommunicationAttention To DetailTeamworkProblem-solvingTime ManagementMulti-taskingCrane OperationsHeavy Haul OperationsFalcon 9 StagesPayloadDragon CapsuleStarshipGround Support Equipment

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

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.

CRITICAL LIFT & TRANSPORT TECHNICIAN (CRANE OPERATIONS) – DAY SHIFT

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for Falcon 9 stages, Payload, Dragon capsule, Starship and associated ground support equipment (GSE) movement across Cape Canaveral and KSC launch site

Perform preventative maintenance on mobile cranes, cranes and SPMTs

Work with a team of technicians and engineers to ensure transport systems and equipment are maintained with the highest level of quality to support current and future manifest

Utilize heavy machinery (forklift, telescopic, overhead crane) to lift and move flight hardware and associated GSE after delivery and prior to shipping

Evaluate in-transit risks and provide on-site solutions to alleviate risk. Including: routes, repairs, escorts, and drivers – includes physical escorts across launch sites

Pack up and organize cross country shipping fixtures and associated hardware for return to respective shipping site

Perform preventative maintenance and repair of shipping fixtures and GSE

Organize, procure and maintain tools needed to offload and pack up flight hardware 

Develop, document and coordinate work instructions with management team to ensure efficient packaging of flight hardware and equipment is maintained

Perform route surveys prior to scheduled flight hardware moves 

Make recommendations to management to improve the health, timing, and safety of all movements

Use various mechanical tools without instruction

Troubleshoot operational issues found on vehicle pressure systems

Maintain and install fluid system components from a schematic or drawing including ball and check valves, pressure regulator and gauges, etc.

Set up, inspect, operate and perform maintenance on hydraulic self-propelled modular transporters, hydraulic booms and crawler cranes.

Perform tear down and assembly of different configurations associated with Cranes and SPMTs

Core traits that empower this success are strong written and oral communication skills, a meticulous attention to detail, an emphasis on safety, cleanliness, adherence to corporate policies and standards, and the ability to work with a team

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or equivalency certificate

1+ years of professional experience in critical lift or heavy haul operations

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Must be well organized and able to multi-task, detail oriented while also working within time constraints and deadlines

2+ years of experience with SPMTs operations and/or Hydraulic lift trailers

2+ years of Mobile hydraulic and/or Crawler cranes for delicate lifting operations (ex. Wind farms, power plants, oil refineries) and 2+ years of experience in rigging

NCCCO/NCCER certifications in crane, rigging, ironworking and heavy equipment operations (ex. TLL, TSS, LAT, OVR, RIG-I-II, SGP)

Commercial driver’s license A with Hazmat endorsement

Excels at operating in an extremely fast paced and dynamic environment (schedules fluctuate often)

Associate degree in aerospace technology or equivalent area of study

Experience within aerospace or automotive production

Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex fluid and mechanical systems

Familiarity with calibrated measurement devices including load cells, multimeters, calipers, torque wrenches, depth gauges, and micrometers

Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral

Ability to work  one of the following shifts:

Monday - Friday 6:00am - 4:30pm

Able to lift 35 lbs. unassisted

Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position

Ability to work at elevated heights (up to 300 feet), including the use of ladder

Ability to work in confined spaces

Willingness to operate heavy machinery such as forklifts and overhead cranes

Travel to other sites will be required, up to 10% of the time

Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain, ice

Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

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 to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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