---
title: 'Automation & Controls Specialist, Launch Pad (Starship) at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/automation-controls-specialist-launch-pad-starship-spacex-starbase-z2c2q4f6kev1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Automation & Controls Specialist, Launch Pad (Starship) at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Starbase, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-10-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8916251002?gh_jid=8916251002

## Job description

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.

## AUTOMATION & CONTROLS SPECIALIST, LAUNCH PAD (STARSHIP)

The Starship Tower & Launch Mount team is looking for controls build specialists to help bring the next generation of launch pads to life. This role bridges the gap between detailed design and activations by developing plans for installing conveyances and pulling cables, building a healthy supply chain of commonly used parts, assisting in the field as needed, and feeding lessons learned from the build back to the design team. The systems the group is developing are intended to interface with the next generation of Starship vehicles, catch both stages, and enable a rapid, automated flight cadence that requires no manual actions between launches.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Create work instructions for integration of electrical and controls systems as well as their related secondary structures
- Identify and escalate tricky designs that lead to manufacturing difficulties, and propose solutions for improving the process
- Provide production support: rapidly disposition issue tickets, work with engineers to define requirements and standard repairs
- Troubleshoot electrical and controls systems
- Select, modify, and maintain equipment needed to perform tests and fabrication projects
- Onboard new machinery or equipment to increase the efficiency of builds
- Document build processes
- Pursue initiatives to streamline the process of going from a design to completed hardware in the field including the areas of supply chain, planning generation, communication with technicians, test plans, tooling, checkouts, and data review

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- 4+ years of professional experience working with electrical or data acquisition systems
- 2+ years of experience designing electrical, mechanical, or control systems (experience from a university or trade school qualifies)

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Proficiency in writing and interpreting planning documents, schematics, wiring diagrams, specifications, drawings, manuals, blueprints, and engineering sketches
- Ability to install and use instrumentation including strain gages, pressure transducers, load cells, thermocouples, RTDs, accelerometers, and analog circuitry
- Ability to fabricate and repair cable harnesses including: soldering, crimping, assembling connectors
- Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills
- Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while working in a high-paced, challenging work environment
- Ability to solve complex problems with minimal supervision on tight schedules

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Ability to work at elevated heights up to 500 feet
- Stand: Up to 10 hours per day
- Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
- Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
- Overhead reach: Up to 6 hours per day
- Walk: Up to 10 hours per day
- Lift/Carry: Up to ≤ 50 lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
- Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 10 hours per day
- Kneel/Crouch: Up to 3 hours per day
- Upper body twist: Up to 3 hours per day
- Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees 6 hours or greater per day
- Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description
- Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

## 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](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987).

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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

## About SpaceX

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft while building a global satellite broadband network and AI infrastructure to enable interplanetary life.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: SPCX) – IPO priced at $135/share on June 12, 2026
- **Headquarters**: Starbase, Texas (primary); Hawthorne, California (historical headquarters)
- **Founded**: 2002
- **Founders**: Elon Musk

## Core Business
- **Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Spaceflight, Satellite Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence
- **Target Customers**: Government (NASA, U.S. Armed Forces, international agencies), Commercial satellite operators, Broadband consumers (Starlink), Defense/intelligence (Starshield)
- **Mission**: To make humanity multiplanetary by building the integrated hardware and software infrastructure of the future across space, connectivity, and AI.

## Products & Services
- **Falcon 9**: Reusable two-stage rocket – the world’s most launched orbital rocket, with over 630 successful first-stage reflights.
- **Falcon Heavy**: Heavy-lift launch vehicle composed of three Falcon 9 cores; capable of lifting nearly 64 metric tons to orbit.
- **Starship**: Fully reusable super-heavy launch vehicle and spacecraft (largest ever built) designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- **Dragon 2**: Crew and cargo spacecraft used for NASA Commercial Crew and private missions to the ISS and beyond.
- **Starlink**: Low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to over 10.3 million people globally.
- **Starshield**: Military-grade satellite services for national security and defense customers.
- **SpaceXAI**: Division focused on AI compute infrastructure, frontier models, and real-time data processing (including AI compute satellites).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Conflicting reports – Internal share offer in 2025 valued SpaceX at **$800 billion**; IPO pricing (June 2026) implied a market capitalization of approximately **$75 billion** for the shares offered.
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of **$15.0 billion** (2025); total funding raised **$15.2 billion** across 56 rounds.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Google (led $1B Series G), Intesa Sanpaolo, NASA, U.S. Space Force, and numerous institutional investors.
- **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount of **11,387** (monthly growth +2.5%); **1,671 active job postings**; Falcon 9 launch cadence of 1–3 per week; Starlink subscriber base covering ~10.3 million people; recent acquisition of xAI (February 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full reusability**: Only company with a fleet of reusable orbital rockets (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy), dramatically lowering per-launch cost.
- **Vertical integration**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own rockets, spacecraft, satellite constellation, and AI platform – enabling rapid iteration and cost control.
- **Scale and reliability**: More orbital launches per year than any other provider (public or private); proven track record with NASA and DoD.
- **First-mover in commercial spaceflight**: Established crew transport, satellite internet, and now AI compute in orbit.

## Strategic Focus
- **Starship development**: Complete testing and operational deployment of the fully reusable Starship system for lunar (Artemis) and Mars missions.
- **Starlink expansion**: Grow subscriber base, launch V3 satellites, and extend mobile and direct-to-cell services.
- **AI integration**: Leverage SpaceXAI for on-orbit compute and real-time data analytics; build AI compute satellites.
- **Interplanetary infrastructure**: Develop technologies for sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Employees directly contribute to making life multiplanetary – “hard work and innovative solutions result in big gains.”
- **Impactful projects**: Work on reusable rockets, crewed spacecraft, global broadband, and AI systems that are actively changing the space industry.
- **Compensation**: Competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and equity packages.
- **Work locations**: Primary campuses in Hawthorne, CA and Starbase, TX (with additional sites in Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg, CA). Roles span engineering, software, manufacturing, and support.
- **Engineering culture**: Merit-based, fast-paced, with high ownership; top talent sourced from Tesla, Boeing, NASA JPL, and other aerospace leaders.
- **Open roles**: Over 1,600 active positions across software, AI, avionics, propulsion, supply chain, and more – including internships.

## Sources
1. [SpaceX Careers Page](https://www.spacex.com/careers)
2. [LinkedIn – SpaceX Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacex)
3. [SpaceX IPO Factsheet (PDF)](https://content.spacex.com/cms-assets/FINAL_Documents%20and%20Updates/SpaceX%20IPO_Factsheet.pdf)
4. [SpaceX IPO Pricing Press Release](https://ir.spacex.com/updates/releases-details/2026/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp--Announces-Pricing-of-Initial-Public-Offering/default.aspx)
5. [SpaceX Jobs Board (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/spacex)

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