Test Specialist Supervisor (Starship)

SpaceX
Starbase, TX

Who this role is best for

Geared toward mid-level supervisors with hands-on experience in aerospace production checkout and strong team leadership skills, comfortable with managing multi-shift schedules and ensuring flight worthiness compliance in a high-stakes environment.

Best fit for

  • Mid-level supervisors with aerospace production checkout experience and team leadership skills
    — “The Test Specialist Supervisor is responsible for leading a team of test specialists executing production checkouts on Starship and Super Heavy vehicles.
  • Candidates with a background in avionics and propulsion testing and process improvement
    — “Assess and vet appropriate skillsets as needed across avionics and propulsion checkouts, leak checks, data review, and test procedure authoring.
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments with physical demands and cross-departmental collaboration
    — “Able to adapt to constant changing work assignments and fast paced work environment.

Things to consider

  • Requires flexibility with shift work, including night and weekend hours as operational needs dictate
    — “Must be available to work extended hours and weekends, which varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
  • Candidates must be physically capable of working in tight spaces and extreme temperatures
    — “Flight hardware is typically built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
  • This role may require working at heights up to 500ft and using air purifying respirators
    — “Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in leading teams through complex checkout campaigns and vehicle integration
    — “The Supervisor of the team will take technical direction from production operations and integration engineering and turn it into reality by building, retaining, and managing their team effectively
  • Emphasize skills in lean manufacturing, kaizen, and continuous improvement of test procedures
    — “Familiarity with design for testability, kaizen, lean manufacturing, six sigma, and failure mode effects analysis
  • Showcase ability to manage labor resources and ensure seamless multi-shift operations
    — “Effectively organize, assign and track work/deliverables for the team, ensuring seamless progression through multi-shift and multi-station vehicle schedules
  • Demonstrate experience in data review and ensuring test data integrity and flight worthiness
    — “Ensure checkouts safety, quality, data integrity, and conformance to specifications and flight worthiness requirements
  • Position yourself as a leader who fosters cross-departmental cooperation and team morale
    — “Initiate and foster a spirit of cooperation within and between departments
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid Level

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

What success looks like

  • leading a team of test specialists
  • managing checkout campaigns
  • improving process efficiency
Typical background
production testvehicle checkoutfinal assembly

Skills & requirements

Required

Production TestVehicle CheckoutFinal AssemblyTeam ManagementProcess ImprovementSafety StandardsCheckout DurationsData IntegrityInventory ManagementCheckout Progress

Preferred

Lean ManufacturingSix SigmaFailure Mode Effects Analysis

Stack & domain

Production TestVehicle CheckoutFinal AssemblyAvionicsPropulsion CheckoutsLeak ChecksData ReviewTest Procedure AuthoringLean ManufacturingSix SigmaFailure Mode Effects AnalysisLeadershipCommunicationTeam ManagementProblem-solvingTime ManagementAerospaceMechanical SystemsElectrical Systems

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.

TEST SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR (STARSHIP)

The Test Specialist Supervisor is responsible for leading a team of test specialists executing production checkouts on Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. The Test Specialist Supervisor is the most influential person on-site to drive checkout progress on an hour-by-hour and day-by-day basis across integration stations and cells. The Supervisor of the team will take technical direction from production operations and integration engineering and turn it into reality by building, retaining, and managing their team effectively; distributing labor resources across checkout campaigns and vehicle serial numbers, and setting headcount requirements where necessary. The Supervisor is also a key enabler to a productive, fun, and hard-working culture. For this role specifically, it is highly important that the Supervisor is an inspiring leader, oftentimes working side by side with their team on the vehicle.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervise production checkout activity across shop floor stations and cells, including daily schedules, vehicle configuration, and workflow

Lead and manage a staff of ~8 test specialists including all performance management related tasks

Review test plans, procedures, and as-runs and make change recommendations when needed

Assess and vet appropriate skillsets as needed across avionics and propulsion checkouts, leak checks, data review, and test procedure authoring

Identify training needs and develop training programs

Provide required data and reporting to support departmental metrics and improvement objectives, including checkout durations and safety standard incorporation

Monitor labor hours and overtime, and implement improvement plans and time management with staff

Accomplish checkout results by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job results

Effectively organize, assign and track work/deliverables for the team, ensuring seamless progression through multi-shift and multi-station vehicle schedules

Initiate and foster a spirit of cooperation within and between departments

Ensure checkouts safety, quality, data integrity, and conformance to specifications and flight worthiness requirements

Maintain GSE, test equipment, gage, and consumable supply inventory

Improve area safety and efficiency through regular auditing and continuous improvement of frequent procedures, including clears, LOTO, and press/vent operations

Continuously improve process and manpower efficiency, utilization and productivity

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree or 5+ years of experience in production test, vehicle checkout, or final assembly: aviation, aerospace, mechanical or electrical systems

2+ years of experience in leading a team or a project

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience applying lean manufacturing principles and efficiency methods

8+ years of experience in production test, vehicle checkouts, or final assembly in a fast paced manufacturing environment

Experience bringing teams and processes from development to production highly desirable

Familiarity with design for testability, kaizen, lean manufacturing, six sigma, and failure mode effects analysis

Ability to effectively communicate (verbal and written) with Engineering, Production, and GSE

Able to adapt to constant changing work assignments and fast paced work environment

Excellent concentration and attention to detail with outstanding work efficiency and accuracy

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be available to work extended hours and weekends, which varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility required

Must be available to work 1st shift (6:00am - 6:00pm) or 2nd shift (6:00pm - 6:00am)

Flight hardware is typically built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required

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

Occasionally exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments (heat, cold, rain)

Must be able to travel for short and extended trips as needed

Stand: Up to 10 hours per day

Sit: Up to 10 hours per day

Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) 30 minutes to 1 hour per day

Overhead reach: Up to 6 hours per day

Walk: Up to 1 hour per day

Lift/Carry: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) 30 minutes to 1 hour per day

Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 6 hours per day

Kneel/Crouch: Up to 6 hours per day

Upper body twist: Up to 6 hours per day

Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees 6 hours or greater per day

Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

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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