Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, aerospace engineering, or related field
1+ years of hands-on build or design experience (internships or competitions qualify)
Advanced degree in engineering or related field preferred
2+ years of experience in fluid systems design, especially with gases or hazardous chemicals
2+ years managing construction projects and contractors
Knowledge of safety protocols for pyrophoric and toxic materials
Proficiency in fluid dynamics software and CAD tools
Responsibilities
Design, build, and activate fluid systems for gas and chemical distribution
Own projects from requirement definition to commissioning and management
Serve as project manager for facility construction, maintaining schedules and budgets
Manage contractor relationships and ensure safety and schedule adherence
Oversee procurement and installation of fluid system components
Conduct safety and hazard assessments for system design
Track system performance metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives
Benefits
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in American manufacturing
Collaborative and fast-paced work environment
Potential for career growth and advancement within the company
Hands-on experience with innovative fluid systems
Engagement in projects that support sustainability and efficiency initiatives
Full Job Description
FLUID SYSTEMS ENGINEER, STARLINK INFRASTRUCTURE
The Starlink Infrastructure team is building world-class production facilities in Bastrop, Texas to support vertically integrated manufacturing of solar cells, user terminals, and PCBAs, along with terrestrial and in-space SI data centers. The specialty fluid systems behind these factories are the backbone of production, and this team owns them end to end: chemical and specialty gas delivery, cryogenic storage and distribution, zero-liquid discharge wastewater processing, Air-separation units, and freshwater intake and treatment.
As a Fluid Systems Engineer, you will lead the design, build, and commissioning of these systems. You will be the extreme owner for your systems, carrying novel designs from first requirement through activation and sustained operation. The problems are real and the scale is large: high-volume chip fabrication, solar production, SI compute, and a rapidly expanding constellation of Starlink satellites all depend on the infrastructure this team delivers. This is the future of American manufacturing, built from the ground up.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Design, build, and activate fluids systems for distribution of bulk and specialty gases, chemicals (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, solvents), exhaust systems, and zero-liquid discharge wastewater plants
Own projects cradle to grave: requirement definition, design, justification of key decisions, equipment procurement, build coordination, commissioning, and project management
Serve as project manager for facility construction, developing and maintaining schedules, cost estimates, and budgets
Manage in-field construction and contractor relationships as the primary point of contact for contracted work, with responsibility for safety, schedule, and field coordination; eliminate blockers and drive the critical path
Manage selection, procurement, installation, and activation of bulk storage tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, gas panels, valves, scrubbers, and abatement systems
Apply fluids and mechanical engineering fundamentals, including P&ID development, equipment sizing, detailed fluid and thermal analysis, system-level CONOP development, structural analysis, and materials and component selection
Perform safety and hazard assessments (e.g., FMEAs, HAZOPs) for hazardous system design, including emergency shutdown CONOPs, redundancy, and compliance with hazardous material safety standards
Ensure regulatory compliance with OSHA, EPA, ASME, NFPA, and SEMI standards for chemical and gas handling, and collaborate with fire and life safety engineers to meet code requirements
Design, build, and deploy data acquisition and control systems for fluids facility control and monitoring
Collaborate with process engineers to integrate fluids systems with manufacturing equipment and optimize delivery rates, purity levels, and recovery and recycling of process fluids for high-yield production
Support installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting alongside facilities operations, EHS, automation, and procurement teams to resolve issues and implement improvements
Track system performance metrics (e.g., flow rates, contamination levels, downtime) and drive continuous improvement, including lean manufacturing and fluid reuse initiatives
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
1+ years of hands-on build or design experience (internship, club, and competition team experience qualifies)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Advanced degree in engineering or a related field
2+ years of experience in fluid systems design, particularly with gases or hazardous chemicals in manufacturing or semiconductor industries
2+ years of experience managing construction projects, design consultants, and mechanical contractors
Knowledge of safety protocols for pyrophoric materials (e.g., silane) and toxic gases and chemicals (e.g., phosphine, HF)
Knowledge of ASME B31.3 and SEMI S2/S8 standards, and experience integrating fluid systems with cleanroom HVAC
Familiarity with cleanroom fluid systems, gas cabinets, scrubbers, and wastewater neutralization for solar cell fabrication
Familiarity with air separation units (ASUs) for gaseous nitrogen production
Certification in process safety (e.g., CSP, Six Sigma Green Belt) or hazardous materials handling
Experience with process safety management, including risk assessment and regulatory compliance
Proficiency in fluid dynamics software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, Pipe-Flo) and CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks) for system modeling and diagramming - should be able to do analysis
Creativity to design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from a blank sheet
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, iterative environment and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams
Ability to shift roles and responsibilities rapidly while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a demanding environment
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods of time during machine buyoffs and startup
Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted
Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position
Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestones
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. a7 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk. The company designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX has developed the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon spacecraft. The company was founded with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has achieved several milestones in spaceflight, including the first privately-funded liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, the first privately-funded company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, and the first privately-funded company to send a human-rated spacecraft to orbit.
