Sr. Industrial Engineer (Starship)
at SpaceX
Brownsville, TX, United States
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.
SR. INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER (STARSHIP)
SpaceX is currently seeking a motivated and accomplished engineer who will be the subject matter expert leading factory design projects. The ideal candidate will excel in a demanding and fast-paced environment where they will work as part of a strong, agile, and highly motivated team to accomplish some of the most ambitious projects being attempted in any industry today. This individual takes pride in his/her thoroughness, analytical ability, organizational skills and attention to detail. The candidate will be able to think at a systems level about ambiguous problems and use strong logic and computation to develop material flow and layout strategies. A successful applicant will have the ability to quantify ambiguous problems to drive data-based decisions.
The team is responsible for developing a factory design, which supports seamless integration between production, material flow, supply chain, construction, and facilities teams. Innovation is expected. Through a detailed understanding of the high-level factory objectives and extensive collaboration with the internal and external teams designing individual factory components, this team ensures that the overall factory design achieves all objectives.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Factory Layout:
Design and optimize site layouts for production, material flow, construction, and facilities
Work with internal manufacturing engineering teams to ensure that equipment and layout designs align with the overall material flow plan and vision for the factory
Own equipment-level equipment layouts to optimize shop layouts at the station level
Create layouts for dock staging areas, logistics/rail yards, and warehouses
Perform clash-detection with facilities design and manufacturing engineering teams during the integration of detailed equipment layouts and facility layouts
Lead workstation efficiency improvements
Leadership:
Apply process improvement methodologies and tools (e.g. value stream mapping, problem solving, visual management, etc.) to reduce manufacturing build hours and quality issues, increase production rates, and remove waste from complex processes across multiple departments
Train technicians, engineers, and leaders on best-in-class operations practices by leading process-improvement workshops; providing training and information briefs on key topics and personally demonstrating “how” by implementing solutions in the area
Provide mentorship, coaching, and overall strategic guidance to production and engineering teams
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in industrial, mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering
5+ years of experience working in a manufacturing or operations environment, with emphasis on layout and material flow
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Proficient working with SQL, Excel, or similar data analysis software
Experience with developing, optimizing, and analyzing assembly and test processes
4+ years of experience leading people or projects
Ability to influence without authority
Strong project management skills
Able to adapt to a fast-paced work environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills across departments and at all levels of leadership
Experience driving cross-functional change within large organizations
Extensive knowledge of lean and experience applying lean principles
Experience bringing teams and processes from a development phase to full production
Experience monitoring, tracking, and continually improving total cost equation
Extensive detailed material flow analysis experience to make data-driven decisions and summarize results for executives
Deep understanding of material delivery methods (e.g. powered industrial equipment, automated guided vehicles, conveyor, rail-guided vehicles) and strategies (e.g. forklift-free)
Demonstrated leadership and ability to drive projects with diverse teams in a high volume manufacturing environment
Experience quantitatively solving ambiguous factory design problems at a systems level
Experience designing greenfield facility layouts and/or material flow strategy
Experience with Nx, AutoCAD, Sketchup
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Flight hardware typically is built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings and climbing hand over hand
Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
Must be able to work all shifts, extended hours, and weekends as needed. Schedule varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.