Piping Technician (Starlink)

SpaceX
Bastrop, TX

Who this role is best for

Aimed at mid-level technicians with industrial piping experience who thrive in collaborative, high-precision manufacturing settings.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with industrial piping experience and a background in water treatment or electronics manufacturing
    — “Experience working in water treatment, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, or electronics manufacturing facilities”
  • Individuals who can take ownership of process areas and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives
    — “You will have ownership of one or more process areas and will have the opportunity to directly impact Starlink’s products.”
  • Technicians who are comfortable with hazardous chemicals and can maintain safety compliance rigorously
    — “Must be comfortable working in a production environment with extensive use of hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents”

Things to consider

  • Shift schedules rotate between day and night shifts, requiring flexibility in work hours
    — “the work schedule will evolve as follows”
  • The role demands physical stamina for long periods of standing, lifting, and working in tight spaces
    — “Must be comfortable with climbing up and down ladders, grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with pressure testing, leak checks, and system commissioning in your resume
    — “Conduct pressure testing, leak checks, and system commissioning on new and existing piping runs”
  • Emphasize your ability to interpret P&IDs and isometric drawings in interviews
    — “Strong ability to read and interpret P&IDs, isometric drawings, and schematic diagrams”
  • Showcase your familiarity with lockout/tagout and hot work permitting procedures
    — “Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and SpaceX safety protocols, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), hot work permitting”
  • Demonstrate your experience with maintaining as-built drawings and spare parts inventory
    — “Maintain accurate documentation of piping modifications, as-built drawings, and spare parts inventory”
  • Demonstrate your ability to work independently with minimal oversight in high-paced environments
    — “Ability to identify and maintain priorities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid

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

What success looks like

  • installation and maintenance of piping systems
  • optimization of piping layouts
Typical background
mechanical engineeringpiping technician

Skills & requirements

Required

Piping InstallationPiping MaintenancePiping RepairSafety ProtocolsWater Treatment

Preferred

PVC Piping SystemsWastewater Treatment

Stack & domain

Piping SystemsPVC PipingSolvent WeldingThreadingMechanical JoiningUPWWastewater TreatmentPumpsValvesSensorsTanksProcess EquipmentPressure TestingLeak ChecksSystem CommissioningWater TreatmentManufacturingOSHAEPASpacex Safety ProtocolsLockout/tagoutHot Work PermittingChemical HandlingStartup And Shutdown ProceduresEquipment And Process DeviationsCorrective ActionsDocumentationAs-built DrawingsSpare Parts InventoryPiping MaterialsChemicals5S StandardsClean And Organized Work AreaCommunicationAnalytical ThinkingJudgmentTeamworkLeadershipProblem-solvingAdaptabilityCollaborationCustomer ServiceProject ManagementTime ManagementOrganizationInnovationCreativityCritical ThinkingDecision-makingRisk ManagementContinuous Improvement

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.

PIPING TECHNICIAN (STARLINK)

SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable. We are looking for talented, creative, and driven technicians to drive manufacturing output and yield. You will have ownership of one or more process areas and will have the opportunity to directly impact Starlink’s products. You will have frequent interaction with engineering teams and leadership and will participate in developing and validating new equipment, processes, and technologies. The success of Starlink depends on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, security, and user experience of the products that you will manufacture. 

As a Piping Technician at Starlink, you will take ownership of state-of-the-art piping systems that support our Starlink User Terminal Production Facility—supporting our PCB operations (largest printed circuit fab in North America!) and our Chip Packaging Plant (featuring a state-of-the-art panel level packaging process). You will install, maintain, and repair all piping systems to ensure reliable water quality and system uptime for our partner teams in a fast-paced, innovative manufacturing environment. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Install, assemble, modify, and maintain PVC piping systems, including solvent welding, threading, and mechanical joining for UPW and wastewater treatment processes

Read and interpret P&IDs, blueprints, isometric drawings, and technical specifications to route and install piping systems 

Install, align, and maintain pumps, valves, sensors, tanks, and other process equipment connected to piping systems 

Perform routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs on piping infrastructure to support system availability greater than 99.9%

Conduct pressure testing, leak checks, and system commissioning on new and existing piping runs 

Collaborate with water treatment technicians, manufacturing, EHS, and engineering teams to optimize piping layouts, reduce leaks, and support continuous improvement initiatives 

Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and SpaceX safety protocols, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), hot work permitting, and proper chemical handling around piping systems 

Execute startup and shutdown procedures for piping and associated equipment 

Identify equipment and process deviations and perform corrective actions 

Maintain accurate documentation of piping modifications, as-built drawings, and spare parts inventory 

Safely handle and transport piping materials, fittings, and chemicals 

Ensure 5S standards are upheld by maintaining a clean and organized work area 

Perform other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

High school diploma or equivalency certificate 

2+ years of hands-on experience as a plumber or pipefitter, or an associate’s degree in a relevant technical field

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

Experience installing and maintaining PVC, CPVC, or other plastic piping systems in industrial or manufacturing environments 

Stainless steel welding experience (TIG and/or MIG) 

Welding certifications (AWS or equivalent) 

Experience working in water treatment, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, or electronics manufacturing facilities 

Strong ability to read and interpret P&IDs, isometric drawings, and schematic diagrams 

Experience with mechanical equipment isolation, disassembly, and repair 

Experience with lockout/tagout, job hazard analysis, and hot work permitting 

Experience handling corrosive or hazardous chemicals around piping systems 

Proficiency with basic hand and power tools, as well as pipe threading and fusion equipment 

Experience using production and inventory management software such as MES/ERP 

Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to work closely with other technicians and cross-functional teams 

Ability to identify and maintain priorities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight 

 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Must be able to lift up to of 25 lbs. unassisted 

Must be able to walk and stand for long periods of time 

Must be comfortable working in a production environment with extensive use of hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents 

Must be able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and electro-chemical manufacturing environment 

Must be comfortable with climbing up and down ladders, grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces 

Must be open to work all shifts, overtime, and weekends as needed 

Due to the nature of production line bring-up, the work schedule will evolve as follows:

Will start as 5 AM - 5 PM (Monday - Thursday)  

Final permanent schedules: 

A-Shift: 5 AM - 5 PM (Sunday-Tuesday and every other Wednesday) 

B-Shift: 5 AM - 5 PM (Thursday - Saturday and every other Wednesday) 

C-Shift: 5 PM - 5 AM (Sunday-Tuesday and every other Wednesday) 

D-Shift: 5 PM - 5 AM (Thursday - Saturday and every other Wednesday)

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)

Similar roles