---
title: 'Starship Engineer, FOD Control at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/starship-engineer-fod-control-spacex-starbase-5fwaejjr8wmd'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Starship Engineer, FOD Control at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Starbase, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-08-07
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8689262002?gh_jid=8689262002

## 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.

## STARSHIP ENGINEER, FOD CONTROL

As a Starship Engineer specializing in FOD Control, you will own Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention and elimination across Starship Production while developing engineering and manufacturing processes that maximize quality at high rate. You will employ root cause investigations and data review to deploy robust fabrication methods, work instructions, tooling design, inspection and cleaning measures. Engineering design, process, facility and supply chain controls will all be areas of ownership.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Own FOD control strategy and execution for Starship Production; ensure facilities and processes comply with AS9146 (Foreign Object Debris Prevention Program) and related aerospace/defense standards.
- Partner with design engineering to apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and design-for-cleanliness principles—sealing machined areas, eliminating hidden cavities where debris can lodge, and enabling clean assembly line layouts—while influencing flight design and vehicle architecture.
- Develop and enforce manufacturing, integration, assembly, welding, NDE, cleanliness, and checkout processes across work centers, including Clean-As-You-Go methodologies, tool accountability tracking, and hardware kitting protocols.
- Design and implement precision tooling and poka-yoke systems for work access, build fixturing, lifting & rigging, fluids, and mechanical/avionics/propulsion testing to eliminate assembly error, prevent FOD introduction, improve quality, and minimize cycle time.
- Develop, qualify, and automate manufacturing processes and in-situ inspection techniques to enable high-rate, repeatable production with higher yield and lower takt time.
- Evaluate and integrate automated FOD detection systems, millimeter-wave radar, and specialized mechanical sweeping equipment into production and integration environments.
- Define inspection requirements, author planning/test plans/work instructions, and create training for production and inspection—including FOD awareness—ensuring stable quality as volume scales.
- Contain non-conforming hardware with quality, production, and design; conduct build quality and FOD audits to identify high-impact issues; drive corrective action and manage fleet risk.
- Challenge and simplify requirements where design intent, cleanliness, and production rate conflict; manage transition of parts and assemblies from development to high-rate production with FOD controls built in.

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, or other engineering discipline.
- 1+ years in manufacturing, quality, process design, and/or design engineering (student project team or internship experience qualifies).

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Master's degree in an engineering discipline.
- Experience developing or leading FOD prevention, cleanliness, contamination control, or AS9146 (or equivalent) programs.
- Hands-on experience with high-rate or mixed value stream manufacturing, focused on yield, rate, and process control.
- Experience building, assembling, or integrating aerospace hardware (structures, avionics, propulsion, fluids, valves, actuators, thermal protection, or similar).
- Mechanical tooling or component design with strong DFM; proficiency in assembly methods, testing, FMEA, and troubleshooting.
- Proficiency with 3D CAD (NX, SolidWorks, or CATIA).
- Knowledge of welding (MIG, TIG, laser, stud, spot, or robot) and NDT (visual, penetrant, x-ray, EMAT, or other); experience improving weld processes and inspection, including automation.
- Knowledge of metallic manufacturing processes (machining, forming, casting, additive, fastening, drilling, bonding).
- Experience evaluating or deploying automated inspection, sensing, detection, or shop-floor cleanup technology.
- Proficiency with SQL, Power BI, or similar tools to prioritize work and measure performance.
- Collegiate or hobby design project experience (Formula SAE, rocketry, etc.); thrives hands-on on the shop floor.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across diverse engineering disciplines.

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed; schedule varies with site operational needs.
- Flexibility to travel to remote build sites, up to 10%.
- Flight hardware is built in tight quarters; physical dexterity required. Duties may include standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting, working in cramped openings, and climbing (including ladders/stairs up to 6 hours/day).
- Work may involve extreme outdoor environments (heat, cold, rain), temperatures over 80°F for 6+ hours/day, and exposure to fumes, odors, and noise.

## 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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