---
title: 'Manufacturing Specialist, Solar Cells (Starlink) at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-specialist-solar-cells-starlink-spacex-bastrop-s5rnq5bzxeva'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Manufacturing Specialist, Solar Cells (Starlink) at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Bastrop, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-04-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8524843002?gh_jid=8524843002

## 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.

## MANUFACTURING SPECIALIST, SOLAR CELLS (STARLINK)

At SpaceX, we are building the next generation of space infrastructure to enable large-scale AI data centers in orbit. These orbital AI platforms require massive amounts of reliable, high-efficiency solar power to support intensive computing workloads in space. To make this possible, we are standing up one of the largest solar cell manufacturing facilities in the world. We are seeking a highly skilled Manufacturing Specialist to operate multiple complex process stations and support process improvements. This high-impact role offers the opportunity to drive operational excellence while enabling SpaceX’s ambitious vision for AI data centers in space.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Operate multiple complex process stations including diffusion furnaces, PECVD, screen printers, firing furnaces, and related solar cell production tools
- Perform minor troubleshooting and rapid corrective actions to maintain production flow
- Support process improvements, yield optimization, and OEE enhancements through data-driven initiatives
- Maintain accurate production records, inventory logs, and quality documentation
- Ensure adherence to safety protocols, cleanroom standards, and regulatory compliance during operations
- Support the development of training materials for team members on equipment operation, safety protocols, and process procedures
- Train and mentor junior team members on equipment operation, safety, and best practices
- Contribute to factory scaling efforts and foster technical excellence and accountability on the production floor

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- High school diploma or GED
- 4+ years of experience in manufacturing/production operations
- 3+ years of experience operating complex manufacturing equipment in a high-volume environment

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Associate’s degree or equivalent technical certification
- Prior experience with semiconductor, solar, or advanced manufacturing processes
- Experience operating and navigating Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) on automated production equipment
- Experience with real-time process monitoring, parameter adjustments, alarm response, and basic troubleshooting in a high-volume manufacturing environment
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, cleanroom protocols, and process data analytics
- Experience in process troubleshooting, improvements, and training in fast-paced environments
- Proven track record supporting high-volume production scaling

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Ability to travel internationally (20%)
- Ability to stand up to 6 hours, lift up to 25 pounds unassisted, and maneuver around equipment in a factory setting
- Ability to work in industrial environments with fumes/odors, noise, hazardous chemicals, and confined spaces
- Must be available for one of the following AWS shifts (start and end times are approximate):
- A Shift – 5:00am-5:00pm, Sunday-Wednesday
- B Shift – 5:00am-5:00pm, Wednesday-Saturday

## 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)

## Other roles at SpaceX

- [CNC Specialist (NX CAM) - Blades & Vanes](https://feeny.ai/job/cnc-specialist-nx-cam-blades-vanes-spacex-bastrop-e68yy8a0j64d) — Bastrop, TX
- [Thermal Development Technician, Robotic Welding (Starship)](https://feeny.ai/job/thermal-development-technician-robotic-welding-starship-spacex-starbase-yqmzqsw8pyah) — Starbase, TX
- [Welding Engineer (Starship)](https://feeny.ai/job/welding-engineer-starship-spacex-starbase-z0zrxryrqszb) — Starbase, TX
- [Equipment Reliability Engineer (Starship)](https://feeny.ai/job/equipment-reliability-engineer-starship-spacex-starbase-r2r8xxvvykyc) — Starbase, TX
- [Application Software Engineer, Internal Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/application-software-engineer-internal-systems-spacex-starbase-9rnsx3q0cyry) — Starbase, TX
- [Sr. Full Stack Engineer, MES (Manufacturing Execution System)](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-full-stack-engineer-mes-manufacturing-execution-system-spacex-bastrop-1gyzme2f3f1j) — Bastrop, TX
- [Full Stack Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-software-engineer-spacex-bastrop-n75e0act3wmn) — Bastrop, TX
- [Full Stack Software Engineer, Internal Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-software-engineer-internal-systems-spacex-hawthorne-b72wbzcr99xr) — Hawthorne, CA
- [Merchandising Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/merchandising-associate-spacex-starbase-gedk4n16vt1h) — Starbase, TX
- [Supervisor, NDE Operations (Starship)](https://feeny.ai/job/supervisor-nde-operations-starship-spacex-starbase-6f3d8eat9aam) — Starbase, TX