---
title: 'CNC Specialist (NX CAM) - Blades & Vanes at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/cnc-specialist-nx-cam-blades-vanes-spacex-bastrop-e68yy8a0j64d'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# CNC Specialist (NX CAM) - Blades & Vanes at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Bastrop, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-09-08
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8784820002?gh_jid=8784820002

## 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.

CNC SPECIALIST (NX CAM) - BLADES & VANES

The CNC Specialist role at SpaceX owns programming and process decisions for IGT blades and vanes—not only writing mill toolpaths. This role works with vendors, machinists, programmers, engineering, and operations with a high level of autonomy, critical thinking, and accountability for equipment, consumables, processes, and output. The CNC Specialist will support the new blades and vanes line in Bastrop, Texas, and must have a strong understanding of programming, equipment, and consumables for: milling, grinding, sinker EDM, wire EDM, trailing-edge machining, laser drilling, and stem drilling on high-temperature superalloys (including nickel-based materials). Mechanical design of functional shop aids (brackets, holders, rigging, fixtures) is expected.

This role sits on a project team selecting, installing, and commissioning the line. We need a high-ownership Specialist who ships results, unblocks other teams, and does not wait to be asked.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Use NX CAD/CAM to program all blades/vanes processes: 5-axis milling, grinding, sinker EDM, wire EDM, trailing-edge machining, laser drilling, and stem drilling.
- Own a comprehensive level of process knowledge: machine capability, workholding, electrodes/wire/wheels/nozzles and other consumables, parameters, and quality outcomes for each process above.
- Verify NC files (e.g. Vericut) and own revision control on programs, setup sheets, and process documentation.
- Select tooling and consumables; set parameters for superalloys; be accountable for tool/consumable life, cycle time, and part quality.
- Drive DFM: recommend and implement drawing/process changes; own the process decision.
- Design fixtures, brackets, holders, and rigging required to run the line.
- Support equipment selection, vendor engagement, and commissioning, including FAT and SAT as required, for mill, grind, EDM, laser, and related cells.
- Troubleshoot common machine, program, consumable, and process issues; train operators and CNC Programmers; act as technical backup on the floor.
- Own process development through prove-out to stable production; meet performance goals and escalate only when the issue is beyond the cell.
- Drive process improvements and support other teams.

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- High school diploma/equivalency certificate.
- 5+ years of CNC programming experience in NX.

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- 7+ years of CNC programming in NX, including experience as a manufacturing engineer or lead programmer on blades/vanes.
- Demonstrated ownership of turbine blade or equivalent airfoil processes (programming, tooling, probing, and prove-out).
- Working knowledge of milling plus two or more of the following: grinding, sinker EDM, wire EDM, trailing-edge machining, laser drilling, and stem drilling, including equipment and consumables.
- 5-axis mill airfoil work: Starrag/Liechti (LX, NB, STC, Turbomill/g-Mill), Hermle C-series, DMG MORI DMU/DMC, Makino D-series/MAG, GROB, Mazak VARIAXIS, Okuma MU-V, or equivalent.
- IGT (or aero turbine) blades, vanes, or high-precision airfoils on superalloys.
- Sinker and wire EDM (GF/Agie, Makino, Sodick, Mitsubishi, or equivalent), including electrodes, wire, and dielectric/consumable selection.
- Cooling holes and stem drilling: fast-hole EDM and/or laser (Winbro, Huffman, Current EDM, Belmont, GF laser, or similar), including diffusers through base metal and TBC; electrodes, nozzles, assist gas, and related consumables.
- CNC grinding/trailing-edge: IMM, Blohm/Mägerle/United Grinding, or equivalent; wheels, dressing, and finish-to-print.
- Metrology (CMM, 3D scanning, on-machine probing).

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted.
- Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required.
- Travel to vendors for FAT as required.
- Must be willing to work overtime and/or weekends if needed.

## 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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