---
title: 'Critical Lift Technician (Starship) at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/critical-lift-technician-starship-spacex-starbase-xgxrn6k2xnyg'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Critical Lift Technician (Starship) at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Starbase, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-05-23
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8553652002?gh_jid=8553652002

## 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.

## CRITICAL LIFT TECHNICIAN  (STARSHIP)

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Responsible for Booster/Ship and associated ground support equipment (GSE) movement across multiple launch sites
- Perform preventative maintenance on mobile cranes, cranes, and SPMTs
- Work with a team of technicians and engineers to ensure systems and equipment are maintained with the highest level of quality to support current and future manifest
- Utilize heavy machinery (standard and high capacity forklifts, telehandlers, mobile hydraulic/crawler cranes, SPMTs, high reach man lifts, overhead cranes) to lift and move flight hardware and associated GSE after delivery and before shipping
- Evaluate in-transit risks and provide on-site solutions to alleviate risk. Including routing, repairs, escorts, and drivers – including physical escorts across launch sites
- Make recommendations to logistics management to improve the health, timing, and safety of all movements
- Work with a team of technicians and engineers to ensure systems and mechanical equipment are built with the highest level of quality to support the successful launch of our multi-million dollar launch vehicle
- Troubleshoot operational issues found on the vehicle press system
- Maintain and install fluid system components from a schematic or drawing including ball and check valves, pressure regulators and gauges, etc.
- Set up, inspect, operate, and perform maintenance on hydraulic self-propelled modular transporters, hydraulic booms and crawler cranes
- Perform tear down and assembly of different configurations associated with Cranes and SPMTs

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- High school diploma or equivalency certificate

- 1+ years of experience on a critical lift team or a logistics/transport team

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- 2+ years of experience with SPMT operators and/or hydraulic lift trailers
- 2+ years of with mobile hydraulic and/or crawler cranes for delicate lifting operations (ex. Wind farms, power plants, oil refineries) and 2+ years of experience in rigging
- NCCCO/NCCER certifications in crane, rigging, ironworking, and heavy equipment operations (ex. TLL, TSS, LAT, OVR, RIG-I/II, SGP)
- Ability to read and interpret engineering work instructions/drawings and verify that the given load, securing method, transport, and loading/unloading processes are carried out successfully and in accordance with transport or lift plan
- Experience with organization and ability to multi-task, detail-oriented while also working within time constraints and deadlines
- Associate degree in aerospace technology or equivalent area of study
- Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex fluid and mechanical systems
- Familiarity with calibrated measurement devices including load cells, multimeters, calipers, torque wrenches, depth gauges, and micrometers

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Must be available to work extended hours and weekends, which varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility required (day shift: 6 AM - 6 PM and night shift: 6 PM - 6 AM)
- Ability to pass Airforce background check for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg
- Able to tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, and/or around obstacles using multi-point rigging techniques
- Flexibility to travel 25-50% of the time
- Valid Driver’s license
- Stand: Up to 10 hours per day
- Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
- Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) 1-2 hours per day
- Overhead reach: Up to 6 hours per day
- Walk: Up to 10 hours per day
- Lift/Carry: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) 1-2 hours per day
- Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 6 hours per day
- Kneel/Crouch: Up to 6 hours per day
- Upper body twist: Up to 6 hours per day
- Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 3 hours per day
- Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, 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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