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Sr. Automation & Controls Engineer, Insource Manufacturing (Starlink)

Develop and implement automation technologies for high-volume production at SpaceX's Starlink manufacturing.

Location
Bastrop, TX, United States
Compensation
Not disclosed
Level
senior
Type
full time

Posted by employer 2 days ago

First seen on Joblaze 1 day ago

Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago

What you'll build

  • Design, develop, and manage automation projects
  • Manage specifications, cost, lead-time, installation, and commissioning of new equipment
  • Collaborate with mechanical designers and manufacturing engineers
  • Create and maintain equipment documentation and drawings
  • Debug and make continuous improvements of equipment

Must have

  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in the design and commissioning of controls systems

Nice to have

  • Robot programming experience, preferably ABB
  • C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience
  • PLC programming experience, preferably Beckhoff TwinCAT or Siemens TIA Portal
  • HMI and SCADA programming experience, preferably Ignition or Beckhoff TwinCAT HMI
  • Experience with 3D CAD, preferably Siemens NX

Practical constraints

  • Must be willing to travel up to 10%
  • Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as necessary

Requirements

Experience
5+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree
Visa
No sponsorship (stated in posting)

Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, work arrangement.

Joblaze summary

In this role, the Sr. Automation and Controls Engineer focuses on designing and managing automation projects to enhance high-volume production for SpaceX's Starlink initiative. Key skills include PLC programming, HMI design, and a solid understanding of safety regulations, particularly in industrial applications. This position is ideal for experienced engineers with a background in controls systems and a hands-on approach to complex machinery. The role involves collaboration across various manufacturing disciplines, emphasizing safety and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed yesterday — first seen on Joblaze November 8, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page November 8, 2026.
  • This exact title is also open at 1 other location at SpaceX: Bastrop, TX.
  • Python appears in 16.4% of 2676 comparable senior other roles in United States; Siemens TIA Portal appears in 0.1% of 2676 comparable senior other roles in United States.

Quick facts

How much experience is required?
At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Sr. Automation & Controls Engineer, Insource Manufacturing (Starlink) role.
What's the tech stack?
Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: 3D CAD, Beckhoff TwinCAT, C#, EPlan, HMI, PLC.
What seniority level is this role?
SpaceX targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Sr. Automation & Controls Engineer, Insource Manufacturing (Starlink) role at SpaceX.

From the original posting

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. AUTOMATION AND CONTROLS ENGINEER, INSOURCE MANUFACTURING (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.

As a member of the Materials Engineering group, you will develop and implement technologies to support high-volume production, rapid product iteration, and new capabilities at SpaceX. You will work with multiple manufacturing disciplines, including injection molding, high pressure die casting, stamping, and mold manufacturing. A strong focus on safety is required, ensuring that all technologies and processes meet the highest safety standards. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design engineering, manufacturing, and operations. Having an open mindset, challenging requirements, and using engineering fundamentals are essential in this role.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design, develop, and manage automation projects
  • Manage specifications, cost, lead-time, installation, and commissioning of new equipment
  • Own safety strategy and planning. Implement ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant systems
  • Collaborate with and challenge mechanical designers and manufacturing engineers to create system requirements and architecture
  • Create and maintain equipment documentation and drawings to enable hand-off to operational teams
  • Debug, root-cause, and make continuous improvements of equipment in a high-rate production environment
  • Architect, write, and debug PLC code with an emphasis on generating code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable, and reusable for high-volume manufacturing applications
  • Generate aesthetically simple HMI screens to make complex machines easy to understand, operate, and troubleshoot
  • Design electrical systems compliant to NEC, NFPA, & UL508A regulations
  • Manage electrical cabinet builds, field wiring, pneumatic and fluid plumbing

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in the design and commissioning of controls systems for industrial applications

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Process integration and electromechanical/mechatronic systems experience
  • Robot programming experience, preferably ABB
  • C#, .NET, python and/or SQL experience
  • PLC programming experience, preferably Beckhoff TwinCAT or Siemens TIA Portal
  • HMI and SCADA programming experience, preferably Ignition or Beckhoff TwinCAT HMI
  • Field bus networks, serial communication and Ethernet communication
  • Knowledge of NEC, UL508A codes
  • Experience with 3D CAD, preferably Siemens NX
  • Exposure to a wide variety of industrial machinery
  • Experience in fast-paced iterative design and test environments
  • Experience automating the aggregation of metrics into dashboards and alerting systems
  • Experience with developing and deploying tools used for data analysis
  • Industrial software application to mechanical assemblies, electrical systems, sensors, pneumatics/hydraulics, including how to safely checkout these interdisciplinary systems prior to production implementation
  • Electrical schematic CAD experience using EPlan
  • Electrical sizing of motors, cables, circuit protection, VFDs, motor starters, and other motion systems
  • Hands-on experience building and commissioning high quality electrical control panels and electro-mechanical systems

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to travel up to 10%
  • Standing/walking for long periods of time
  • Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as necessary to accommodate manufacturing and test campaigns

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.