Engineer, Development Operations

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.

LEAD ENGINEER, DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS (STARLINK) - BASTROP

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system — thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together.

Development Operations in Bastrop is the shop that turns engineering intent into hardware: fixtures, tooling, CNC, weld, modular automation cells, and the mechanical catalog that factory and test programs pull from. We are looking for a Lead Engineer to own that engineering stack — design, DFM, and the engineers who run it — so programs hit schedule without a hero on every job.

This role encompasses design, analysis, and manufacturing. You will spearhead large-scope projects from early design trades through fab and handoff. You will define processes, drive requirements, and set the design bar (GD&T, NX, fixtures that the mill can actually cut). You partner with Development Supervisors who own technician people ops.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the Development Operations engineering team (Build Engineers and design/DFM ICs): hire, coach, set goals, and raise the bar on quality, throughput, and schedule
• Own design for manufacturability from concept through fab: original CAD, GD&T, design reviews, and design changes that reduce cost, complexity, and cycle time
• Own fixtures, tooling, workholding, and mechanical catalog items (cells, conveyors, buffers, stands) from raw material through handoff to the customer program
• Act as technical decision maker for the shop engineering stack — what we make, how we make it, and when we push a design back to the RE
• Partner with Development Supervisors on intake, queue, and expedite
• Partner with CNC programmers, machinists, welders, ACE specialists, and inventory
• Drive NCR, root cause, and corrective action on non-conforming product (tooling, cells, fixtures, piece parts)
• Create and maintain build documentation: procedures, MBOMs, integration instructions, and planning that technicians and vendors can execute
• Interface with supply chain and vendors so piece parts and sub-assemblies hit rate