Water Treatment Technician, Solar Cells (Starlink)

SpaceX
Bastrop, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience with UPW systems and wastewater treatment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on experience in UPW and wastewater treatment systems in semiconductor or electronics manufacturing
    — “3+ years of hands on experience in UPW production and/or industrial wastewater treatment (semiconductor, pharma, or electronics manufacturing ideal)”
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-paced manufacturing environments and can independently manage complex systems
    — “rapidly change roles/responsibilities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight”

Things to consider

  • Must be prepared for all shifts and potential overtime due to high system availability targets
    — “Must be open to work all shifts, overtime and/o”
  • Requires direct interaction with engineering and leadership teams, suggesting a collaborative and proactive mindset
    — “frequent interaction with engineering teams and leadership”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with reverse osmosis, EDI, and chemical handling in your resume and interview responses
    — “Operate and monitor UPW (ultrapure water) systems, including reverse osmosis (RO), electrodeionization (EDI), UV disinfection, and filtration”
  • Emphasize your ability to identify process deviations and implement corrective actions proactively
    — “Identify equipment and process deviations and perform corrective actions”
  • Showcase your proficiency with water quality instrumentation and data logging tools like Hach analyzers
    — “Conduct daily water quality sampling, analysis (e.g., TOC, silica, metals, conductivity), and data logging using tools like Hach analyzers or similar”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • high system availability
  • reliable water quality
  • optimized water usage
  • reduced waste
Typical background
chemical engineeringenvironmental engineeringindustrial engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Water TreatmentReverse OsmosisElectrodeionizationUV DisinfectionFiltrationPh NeutralizationEvaporatorsClarificationPrecipitationSolids DewateringAOPCrystallizersTMFUFProcess MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingData LoggingOSHA ComplianceEPA Compliance

Preferred

Zero Liquid DischargePrinted Circuit Board ManufacturingChip Packaging

Stack & domain

UPW SystemsReverse OsmosisElectrodeionizationUV DisinfectionFiltrationWastewater TreatmentPh NeutralizationEvaporatorsClarificationPrecipitationSolids DewateringAOPCrystallizersTMFUFWater Quality SamplingAnalysisData LoggingOSHAEPASpacex Safety ProtocolsLockout/tagoutChemical HandlingStartup And Shutdown ProceduresEquipment And Process DeviationsCorrective ActionsWater TreatmentSolar CellsManufacturingProduction ProcessesEquipmentFacilitiesTreatmentManufacturing Process TechnologiesHigh Volume ProductionZLDZero Liquid DischargePCB OperationsChip Packaging PlantPanel Level Packaging ProcessWater QualityFast-pacedInnovative Manufacturing Environment

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.

WATER TREATMENT TECHNICIAN, SOLAR CELLS (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 Water Treatment Technician on Starlink, you will take ownership of state-of-the-art production processes and equipment performance and reliability by monitoring process parameters and maintaining components, with a keen eye for leading indicators of instability or malfunction, and a drive to correct those issues in advance of undesirable events. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and operationalization of equipment, facilities, treatment, and manufacturing process technologies necessary for high volume production. This role will focus on supporting one or more of our ZLD (zero liquid discharge) water treatment facilities, our Solar Cells facility, our PCB operations (largest printed circuit fab in North America!), or our Chip Packaging Plant (featuring a state of the art panel level packaging process). You will ensure reliable water quality for our partner teams, in a fast-paced, innovative manufacturing environment. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operate and monitor UPW (ultrapure water) systems, including reverse osmosis (RO), electrodeionization (EDI), UV disinfection, and filtration

Manage wastewater treatment processes, including pH neutralization, evaporators (multiple-effect vacuum and MVR units), clarification/precipitation and solids dewatering, AOP (advanced oxidation processes), crystallizers, and a variety of other processes (TMF, UF, etc.)

Perform routine preventative maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting on pumps, valves, sensors, membranes, and control systems

Conduct daily water quality sampling, analysis (e.g., TOC, silica, metals, conductivity), and data logging using tools like Hach analyzers or similar

Respond to alarms, investigate excursions, and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime (target: >99.9% system availability)

Collaborate with manufacturing, EHS, and engineering teams to optimize water usage, reduce waste, and implement sustainability initiatives

Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and SpaceX safety protocols, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) and chemical handling

Execute startup and shutdown procedures for production equipment

Identify equipment and process deviations and perform corrective actions

Work with engineers and technicians to create operating procedures

Use knowledge of systems and existing documentation like schematics and parts lists to create and maintain a mature and efficient hardware inventory system – including procurement of critical spares

Identify continuous improvement opportunities for uptime and quality

Safely handle chemicals (including transporting and loading) and chemical handling equipment

Read, interpret, and follow technical documents such as manufacturing work instructions

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 degree or equivalency certificate

2+ years of experience working in a hands-on technical position OR an associate’s degree in a STEM field

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Proficiently use a computer and MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

3+ years of hands on experience in UPW production and/or industrial wastewater treatment (semiconductor, pharma, or electronics manufacturing ideal)

Experience in a chemical manufacturing or oil/gas industry

Strong knowledge of water chemistry, ion exchange, RO/EDI systems, and wastewater technologies

Proficiency with water quality instrumentation and basic PLC troubleshooting

Experience working in a manufacturing environment or wet lab

Experience with process parameters and engineering units for temperature, pressure, flow, and power

Ability to read and understand P&ID and schematic wiring diagrams

Experience with mechanical equipment and systems requiring the isolation of the malfunction, disassembly of industrial machinery and repair/replacement of bearings, gears, structural components

Experience with lock out tag out, job hazard analysis, hot work permitting

Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals

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 for tasks and projects while staying organized

Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight

Current or past certification for IPC-A-600, IPC-6012 or equivalent

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

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

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

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)

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

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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