SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

Thermal Hardware Specialist - Kiln

Equipment MaintenanceConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeCape Canaveral, FL, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
At least 7 years of professional experience working with kiln machinery.
Ability to pass the Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral.
Ability to work in high-temperature environments and stand for extended periods.
Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed.
Ability to handle lightweight supplies or materials up to 25 pounds unassisted.
Willingness to travel up to 15% for business and operational needs.
U.S. citizenship or nationality, lawful permanent residence, refugee status, or asylee status, or eligibility to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Responsibilities

Monitor and adjust kiln parameters, including burners, temperature, pressure, and rollers, to maintain optimal performance.
Analyze kiln efficiency regularly and identify areas for improvement.
Inspect kiln components to verify functionality and identify potential issues.
Interpret alarms and operational trends and adjust kiln settings in partnership with engineering.
Complete daily work orders overseeing technician work orders and ensure kiln outputs meet defined quality criteria.
Ensure preventive maintenance tasks are completed on time and spare parts are in good condition.
Calibrate instruments and control systems to maintain accurate readings and control.
Follow safety protocols, including using personal protective equipment and handling materials safely.
Maintain and support the development of work instructions, procedures, work orders, and daily technician routines for kilns and dryers.
Maintain documentation, training, and standard procedures that support technician understanding and operation of machinery.
Respond to maintenance recommendations and directions from engineering and suppliers.
Report machinery uptime and downtime and ensure corrective actions improve machinery reliability.
Champion maintenance tickets, training, and execution by technicians and production teams.
Develop machinery key performance indicators to support daily operations.
Ensure machine bills of material for spare parts are properly created in systems to enable replenishment and quick maintenance execution.
Coordinate with supervisors and production planning to ensure technicians execute preventive maintenance plans and machinery downtime is planned.

Desired Qualifications

Apply process controls in high-volume manufacturing, testing, and quality environments.
Knowledge of quality tools, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, control plans, and problem-solving approaches.
Experience developing or supporting complex mechanical or structural assemblies.
Experience developing or supporting fluid component or valve assembly.
Experience developing or supporting computer numerical control machining, forming, or bending.
Experience with bonding, drilling, fastening, and other assembly manufacturing processes.
Computer skills including SQL, Microsoft Office, or other electronic systems.

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.

THERMAL HARDWARE SPECIALIST, KILN - LEVEL 4/5

This role is responsible for overseeing the operations, parameters, and maintenance of several sintering roller hearth kilns and dryers, bridging the technician day to day work and operations of machinery with engineering. The Specialist will be constantly monitoring equipment with the technician team using a hands-on approach, ensuring processes, procedures, and training are well maintained and in place with the main goal of maximizing equipment reliability and product quality output.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Monitor and adjust kiln parameters: continuously observe kiln operations, adjusting burners, temperature, pressure, and rollers to maintain optimal performance
Conduct regular analyses to assess kiln efficiency and identify areas for improvement
Perform routine inspections to verify the functionality of kiln components and identify potential issues
Interpret alarms and operational trends to make informed adjustments to kiln settings in partnership with engineering
Complete daily work orders that will oversee technician work orders, ensuring that kiln outputs meet defined quality criteria
Ensure that preventive maintenance tasks are performed in a timely manner, and that spare parts are in good condition
Calibrate instruments and control systems to maintain accurate readings and control
Adhere to all safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe handling of materials.
Maintain and support development of work instructions, procedures, work orders and daily tech routine for all kilns and dryers
Ensure good documentation, training and standard procedures are in place to ensure high level of technician understanding and operation of machinery
Understand and react with engineering and suppliers recommendations and directions for maintenance plans
Give visibility of machinery up and down time to ensure that corrective actions are being taken to improve machinery reliability
Champion maintenance tickets, training and execution by technicians and production teams
Develop machinery Key Performance Indicators to support day to day operations
Ensure spare parts (Machine Bill of Material – MBoM) are properly created in the systems generating good replenishment system to allow quick turnaround for maintenance execution
Work hand to hand with supervisors and production planning to ensure technicians execution of preventive maintenance plan, making sure that properly down times are planned to allow machinery preventive maintenance

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or equivalency certificate
7+ years of professional experience working with kiln machining

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team’s spirit of innovation and mission of improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
Knowledge of quality tools, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, control plans, and various problem-solving approaches
Experience developing or supporting any of the following products/processes:
- Complex mechanical/structural assemblies
- Fluid component/valve assembly
- CNC machining, forming, bending
Bonding, drilling, fastening and other assembly manufacturing processes
Computer skill sets such as SQL, Microsoft Office, or other electronic systems

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
Ability to work in high-temperature environments and stand for extended periods
Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed
Physical effort with some handling of lightweight supplies or materials (up to 25 lbs. unassisted)
Must be willing to travel for business and operational needs, travel requirement is up to 15%

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. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

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 reach out to [email protected].

About the Company

SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

SpaceX builds and launches reusable rockets and spacecraft for NASA, the military, and companies, and it runs Starlink, a satellite internet service for homes and businesses. In 2020, its Dragon capsule became the first privately built spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Falcon 9 rocket lands its first stage so the booster can fly again, which cuts launch costs, while Starlink beams internet from low-orbit satellites to small dishes for a monthly fee. SpaceX also owns xAI, maker of the Grok chatbot and owner of the social network X, and is building Starship, a fully reusable rocket meant to carry people to the Moon and Mars. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, and it is based in Starbase, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Starbase, Texas
Founded: 2002

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