SpaceX

Sr. Automation & Controls Engineer (Starship)

SpaceX • $100K — $130K *
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechatronics engineering, or related field.
  • 5+ years experience in instrumentation power systems design, data acquisition systems, or programmable controllers (including internships).
  • Proficiency in electronics test rack design, data acquisition setup, or building electronic systems.
  • Hands-on experience with high-quality electrical control panels and electro-mechanical systems.
  • Familiarity with NEC, NFPA 79, and UL508A codes.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop new and existing control systems for the launch organization.
  • Architect, write, and debug organized, maintainable PLC code for manufacturing.
  • Implement control network infrastructure and interfaces for data acquisition.
  • Design, maintain, and upgrade SCADA systems at launch and production sites.
  • Create compliant electrical control panel layouts and schematics.
  • Manage builds, wiring, and plumbing of electrical cabinets.
  • Conduct checkouts and activation testing for new equipment.
  • Troubleshoot critical ground support equipment and tooling effectively.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on the world's most powerful launch vehicle.
  • Hands-on experience in a highly innovative and dynamic work environment.
  • Collaboration with elite engineering teams in aerospace technology.
  • Potential for career advancement within a leading aerospace company.
Full Job Description
SR. AUTOMATION & CONTROLS ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket (collectively referred to as Starship) represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship will be the world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tons to Earth orbit. The launch hardware Automation & Controls Engineer role will be hands-on in designing and activating the systems that build and launch Starship. The successful applicant will work as part of a team of elite engineers designing and improving the electrical, and control systems across our rocket launch facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Participate in the design and development of new and existing control systems critical to the launch organization
  • Architect, write, and debug PLC code, emphasizing generating organized, structured, documented, maintainable, and reusable code for manufacturing applications
  • Design and implement the controls network infrastructure and interfaces to data acquisition systems trading cost, complexity and redundancy
  • Design, operate, upgrade, and maintain SCADA infrastructure at launch and production sites
  • Lay out new industrial electrical control panels that are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant and create electrical, pneumatic, and fluid schematics
  • Manage electrical cabinet builds, field wiring, pneumatic and fluid plumbing
  • Manage the checkouts and activation testing of new equipment
  • Write robust and scalable procedures to activate technicians to quickly and reliably build and activate new control systems
  • Provide hands on troubleshooting support for a variety of active and critical ground support equipment tooling
  • Provide innovative solutions to special requirements and challenges faced by the team, which can range from integrating specialized equipment to challenging operating environment, packaging or loading

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechatronics engineering, or other engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of experience with instrumentation power systems design, data acquisition systems, or programable controllers (internship/project experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Proficiency or direct hands-on experience in one or more of the following: electronics test rack design and build, data acquisition setup and field measurements, build of electronics systems or test systems for local assembly or industrial applications
  • Exposure to a wide variety of production machinery, industrial sensors, and equipment (vision systems, dispense systems, temperature controllers, laser distance sensors, Nut-Runners, etc)
  • Hands-on experience building and commissioning high quality electrical control panels and electro-mechanical systems
  • Electrical schematic CAD experience using EPlan
  • C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience
  • PLC programming experience, preferably Siemens TIA Portal
  • HMI and SCADA programming experience, preferably with Ignition software
  • Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 79, UL508A codes
  • Able to collaborate with a wide range of people and effectively work in a team in a high-pressure, dynamic environment
  • Able to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
  • Must be willing to work weekends and night shifts as needed; flexibility required
  • Must be willing to travel to other launch sites in support of operational activities and launches; travel requirement is up to 15%
  • Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position


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.
Learn more about SpaceX
Size
8,000 employees
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Founded
2002
* Ladders Estimates

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