New Graduate Engineer, Manufacturing - '26/'27 (Starlink)

SpaceX
Bastrop, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward new graduate engineers with hands-on manufacturing experience and a willingness to work in a dynamic, in-house production environment comfortable with owning processes and troubleshooting equipment.

Best fit for

  • New graduates with hands-on experience in manufacturing processes and tools
    — “hiring new graduates who have owned a process or a tool on real hardware”
  • Candidates who can work on high-volume production and advanced machining techniques
    — “High volume production processes such as injection molding, high pressure die casting, and stamping”

Things to consider

  • The role requires significant travel to other SpaceX sites or vendors
    — “Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors for significant/extended periods of time”
  • Candidates must be eligible for U.S. Government export authorizations
    — “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”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with process trials and statistical process control in your resume
    — “Experience with DOE, SPC/Cpk, or structured process trials on hardware”
  • Emphasize your ability to work on green-field projects and define new processes
    — “Completely new, ground up, green-field projects! Speccing new hardware and equipment, owning commissioning and initial process development”
  • Showcase your hands-on work with CNC, metrology, and GD&T in your application materials
    — “Hands-on work with manufacturing such as CNC and assembly”
  • Demonstrate your understanding of how parts fail and how to improve yield
    — “Solid understanding of GD&T, metrology (go/no-go, micrometers, CMM), and how parts fail (scrap, dimensional, tool wear)”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • successful process development
  • high-volume production
  • yield improvement
Typical background
engineering degreehands-on manufacturing experienceGD&T and metrology knowledge

Skills & requirements

Required

Manufacturing ProcessesTool DesignProcess DevelopmentQuality ControlGD&TMetrology

Preferred

CNC MachiningInvestment CastingAdvanced Machining

Stack & domain

CNCGD&TMetrologyCADDOESpc/cpkInjection MoldingHigh Pressure Die CastingStampingTool And DieInvestment CastingAdvanced Machining5-axisEDMGundrillingManufacturingEngineeringStarlinkSatellitesInternet

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.

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, MANUFACTURING - '26/'27 

Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet to serve populations with little or no connectivity. We design, build, launch, and operate the world's largest constellation of satellites, enabling us to operate a global internet network unbounded by traditional ground infrastructure limitations. Starlink also designs, builds, and delivers high-volume consumer hardware that allows users to connect to these satellites within minutes of unboxing, as well as our advanced gateways that we deploy regionally throughout the world. The root of SpaceX’s success so far lies in our mission to keep all engineering and production in-house, which enables a tight feedback loop, nimble decision-making, and speedy deliverables. With millions of daily users worldwide already online, Starlink is a true game-changer and levels the playing field for those who were previously unconnected.

This role sits in Bastrop, TX, a high-rate SpaceX manufacturing site. You will work closely with Materials Engineering on the processes, tools, and cells that produce flight and production hardware across programs. 

We are hiring new graduates who have owned a process or a tool on real hardware. Some examples of processes you would be working on: 

High volume production processes such as injection molding, high pressure die casting, and stamping 

Tool and die – the dies (molds and tools) that make those processes possible in-house 

Advanced machining processes, including 5-axis, EDM, gundrilling and more 

Investment casting – blades and vanes tooling and related process work 

Metrology and quality – GD&T, inspection, and capability on production hardware 

Completely new, ground up, green-field projects! Speccing new hardware and equipment, owning commissioning and initial process development 

 RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Own manufacturing processes from process development through high-volume production 

Design and run trials to set process windows; measure yield, scrap, cycle time, and capability 

Develop fixtures, jigs, and work instructions operators use on the floor 

Apply CNC, metrology, and GD&T on real hardware 

Partner with Materials Engineering to develop and test advanced materials and manufacturing processes for next generation hardware 

Troubleshoot process and equipment problems on the floor and close root cause 

Challenge assumptions and work to find simple solutions to complex problems 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline 

1+ years of experience with engineering projects (internship or extracurricular experience is applicable) 

Graduating in the class of 2026 or 2027 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

Hands-on work with manufacturing such as CNC and assembly 

Solid understanding of GD&T, metrology (go/no-go, micrometers, CMM), and how parts fail (scrap, dimensional, tool wear) 

Experience with CAD (NX or SolidWorks) and production drawings 

Experience with DOE, SPC/Cpk, or structured process trials on hardware 

Exposure to production machinery (injection molders, die casters, CNC, EDM, motion systems) 

Excellent communication skills both written and verbal 

Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors for significant/extended periods of time (~15% travel normally, more during urgent manufacturing and test campaigns)

Ability to lift up to 25Ibs unassisted

Standing/walking for long periods of time

Willingness to work long hours and weekends as necessary to accommodate manufacturing and test campaigns

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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