Full-Time
Manufacturing Engineer
Starlink Optical
Posted on 7/15/2026
SpaceX
10,001+ employees
Designs, manufactures, and launches rockets
No salary listed
No H1B Sponsorship
Bastrop, TX, USA
In Person
On-site in Bastrop, Texas; not remote.
US Citizenship Required
Bachelor's
 Mechanical Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- Experience with CAD and Finite Element Analysis software packages
- Support the design and implementation of automated production cells, fixtures, and tooling for precision optical and electro-mechanical assembly
- Create and modify CAD models for tooling, fixtures, mechanical interfaces, and production equipment
- Assist with product-to-manufacturing handoff during new product introduction (NPI), including process development, build planning, and first-article execution
- Develop, document, and maintain assembly processes, work instructions, and validation procedures to support repeatable high-volume production
- Build, test, and debug production equipment and prototype hardware on the factory floor
- Analyze yield, process, and metrology data to support root-cause investigations and drive continuous improvement
- Partner with mechanical, electrical, optical, and automation engineering teams to identify manufacturability improvements and feed lessons learned back into product design
- Support the development and qualification of production test and inspection methods, including in-line metrology and end-of-line validation
- Internship, co-op, or early-career experience in hardware, robotics, automation, or manufacturing environments
- Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or jigs for assembly or test applications
- Exposure to scripting or data analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or equivalent) for process data analysis or automation
- Experience working with precision assemblies, robotic systems, or automated pick-and-place equipment
- Familiarity with manufacturing process development methodologies (e.g., PFMEA, process capability studies, SPC)
- Exposure to GD&T and tolerance analysis as applied to fixture and tooling design
- Experience with or interest in production data systems, MES, or manufacturing traceability infrastructure
- Familiarity with cleanroom or controlled-environment manufacturing practices
SpaceX designs, builds, and launches rockets and spacecraft for government and commercial customers, using reusable first stages to cut costs. Its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy recover their boosters to enable rapid reuse, while Dragon transports cargo and crew to the International Space Station. Starlink operates a satellite internet constellation to provide global broadband coverage. It earns revenue from launches and merchandise, with the broader goal of making space travel cheaper and, over time, enabling human life on other planets and expanding global internet access.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Starbase, Texas
Founded
2002
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- SpaceX completed its IPO June 15, 2026, raising $85.7 billion.
- August 2026 launches kept cadence high, including Starlink missions on August 11 and 12.
- FCC authorization for Starlink's Wi-Fi 7 router expands premium hardware sales.
What critics are saying
- SpaceX spent $18.4 billion on capex in Q2 2026, pressuring free cash flow.
- Amazon and rivals keep challenging Starlink spectrum filings, delaying Gen2 deployment.
- A Starship grounding after a major accident would freeze Mars, Starlink Gen2, and IPO upside.
What makes SpaceX unique
- Falcon 9 still delivers weekly cadence, with 90 launches by August 4, 2026.
- Starlink owns the highest-volume cash engine, funding launches and Starship iteration.
- SpaceX vertically integrates rockets, satellites, routers, and FCC filings across one operating stack.
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Benefits
Benefits and Perks - Our employees’ well-being is important to us and essential to our capacity to do extraordinary things. We offer a wide variety of programs to support the health, wellness, and financial security of our employees and their families.
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -1%1 year growth
↓ -2%2 year growth
↓ -2%SpaceX shares are trading around $140, below their $150 opening price when the company went public. The space exploration company reported a $541 million loss in its second quarter despite generating $7.8 billion in revenue, primarily from its Starlink satellite internet business. SpaceX's capital expenditures surged 550% year-over-year to $18.4 billion in the second quarter. The company is investing heavily in multiple projects, including its reusable Starship rocket and AI data centres. SpaceX plans to build 10 gigawatts of data centre capacity by the end of next year. With a market capitalisation of $1.8 trillion, a $5,000 investment would require nearly 20,000% gains to reach millionaire status, making this scenario mathematically implausible despite the company's growth potential.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that artificial intelligence could account for 99% of the company's value within four or five years. In its Form S-1 filing, SpaceX estimated its AI total addressable market at $26.5 trillion of a $28.5 trillion total opportunity across all business segments. The company's AI revenue grew 247.5% year-over-year to $2.6 billion in the second quarter, representing 33% of total revenue. Overall revenue reached $7.8 billion, up 92% from the prior year. Analysts expect SpaceX to generate $44.58 billion in revenue this year and $95.49 billion next year, compared to $18.7 billion last year. Musk previously stated the company's revenue could reach $1 trillion by 2030.
SpaceX plans to attempt catching a returning Starship upper stage with its launch tower for the first time this month, CEO Elon Musk announced during the company's 4 August earnings call. The attempt is tentatively scheduled for late August, pending regulatory approval. The confidence follows Flight 13 on 24 July, which saw the Ship survive re-entry and splash down in the Indian Ocean. Flight 14 will also deploy Starlink V3 satellites into operational orbit for the first time. SpaceX has previously caught the Super Heavy booster, but never the Ship, which returns from space at much higher speeds. Tower catches enable faster turnaround by eliminating ocean recovery. SpaceX's connectivity segment grew revenue 66% year-over-year to $4.3 billion last quarter.
A regulatory filing revealed Elon Musk owns a 48.4% stake in SpaceX as of 30 June, valued at more than $900 billion at current market prices. Musk holds 6.42 billion shares with sole voting power, though he noted on X that some shares have not yet vested. Despite economic ownership below 50%, Musk commands over 82% of SpaceX's votes. His 6.4 billion shares remain locked up until June 2027. SpaceX shares closed Thursday at $141.29, down 3.33%. The company's 12 June IPO raised $85.7 billion and briefly pushed market capitalisation past $2 trillion. Shares have since pulled back, though they've gained 3.83% over the past month. Norway's Government Pension Fund Global disclosed a 0.05% stake worth $1.2 billion.
Cathie Wood's ARK Invest purchased $44.7 million in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and SpaceX between late July and mid-August. The firm also bought $12.6 million in Nvidia shares on 10 August, following a $9.4 million purchase on 5 August. These purchases align with ARK's focus on artificial intelligence and space technology. The investments were partially funded by selling stakes in Amazon, Alphabet, and Shopify worth approximately $7.1 million combined. TSMC, the world's largest contract chip maker, reported second-quarter revenue of $40.2 billion, up 34% year over year. Meanwhile, SpaceX has traded below its pre-IPO price since its 12 June debut, having reported a loss exceeding $500 million in its first earnings report.