---
title: 'Instrumentation & Controls Technician at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/instrumentation-controls-technician-spacex-starbase-nyjx2vc1tft2'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Instrumentation & Controls Technician at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Starbase, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-10-27
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8918473002?gh_jid=8918473002

## 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.

## INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROLS TECHNICIAN

Join the Starbase infrastructure team at SpaceX to build, install, operate, and maintain instrumentation and controls for critical power, HVAC, utility, and fluids systems supporting launch, production, supercomputer, and power-generation projects. As a technician, you will install and troubleshoot the sensors, valves, wiring, and control systems that run them, working from the field device through the PLC and SCADA. The role is based at Starbase, TX, with potential travel to other SpaceX facilities.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Install, configure, operate, and maintain instrumentation, automation, control, and SCADA systems for the infrastructure, utility, and fluids systems
- Fabricate and install fluid-system components from schematics and drawings, including stainless and aluminum piping, ball and check valves, pressure regulators, and sensors and gauges
- Connect, verify, calibrate, and troubleshoot pressure transducers, thermocouples, and other sensors, and complete the wiring of electrical ground support equipment
- Configure and commission PLC, HMI, and SCADA applications in a high-reliability production and launch environment
- Update, redline, and troubleshoot electrical and pneumatic schematics (EPLAN, Schematics, and similar)
- Assemble and wire industrial control panels to NFPA 79 / NEC / UL 508A, and install power-system controls in line with NFPA 70, 70B, 70E, NESC, and IEEE
- Perform high-pressure liquid and pneumatic testing, and repair high-urgency issues found during activation or production use
- Support controls upgrades, commissioning, testing, hand-off, and training as systems scale
- Read and interpret drawings, data sheets, BOMs, and engineering sketches, and keep SCADA and as-built documentation current
- Give engineers practical feedback on how systems will be operated and maintained
- Write short work instructions from drawings and requirements
- Support SOWs and contractor work so the in-house team can keep pace
- Train junior technicians on instrumentation and controls tasks
- Plan and finish weekly work with minimal impact to operating systems

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- 1+ years hands-on installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining instrumentation, automation, or controls systems
- 1+ years using mechanical and/or electronics hand tools, including work from schematics on piping, valves, sensors, or control wiring

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- 3+ years in industrial instrumentation, automation, controls, or fluid systems
- Experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex fluid and mechanical systems
- Experience with pneumatic/hydraulic system fabrication
- Experience with orbital or structural welding
- Professional experience with calibrated measuring instruments
- Experience using heavy equipment, including but not limited to, overhead cranes, forklifts and manlifts
- Relevant certifications (e.g., ISA CCST, NICET, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens)
- Experience designing/developing HMI applications with Ignition
- Familiar with SEL, Allen Bradley and Siemens suite of control devices
- Experience deploying and troubleshooting server/client SCADA applications
- Ability to read and interpret electrical one-line drawings, DC/AC schematics, and bills of materials
- Experience implementing control logic schemes (e.g., ladder logic) and basic network configurations
- Experience with IEC-61131 programming (ladder logic, structured text)
- Experience with IT/OT network troubleshooting
- Familiarity with industrial communications protocols: Modbus, IEEE C37.115, IEEE C37.111, DNP3, etc.
- Experience with electrical schematic CAD tools (EPLAN, AutoCAD, etc.)
- Experience with C#, .NET, Python, and/or SQL for scripting and automation tasks
- Demonstrated initiative, creative problem-solving, and strong hands-on troubleshooting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills to prioritize, schedule, and implement solutions with minimal operational impact
- Proven ability to work independently or in teams in dynamic, high-stress environments with tight deadlines

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights
- Work extended hours and weekends as needed to support launch operations
- Remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE
- Lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted
- Provide 24/7 on-call support for emergencies

## 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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