Instrumentation & Controls Technician, Water Treatment (Starlink)

Instrumentation and Controls Technician - Water Treatment

The Water Treatment team at SpaceX is looking for an experienced Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Technician to support our rapidly expanding site in Bastrop, TX. You will be the technical backbone of our critical water infrastructure, ensuring the reliability of Ultra-Pure Water (UPW), Industrial Wastewater (IWW), and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems that support our manufacturing and testing operations.

This is not a role for someone who prefers to sit at a desk. We need a hands-on problem solver who can troubleshoot a PLC panel in the morning, calibrate sensitive chemical analyzers in the afternoon, and help redesign a control loop before the end of the day. You will take ownership of the "eyes and ears" of our water systems, ensuring uptime for critical production lines and safety for the rest of the operations team.

Responsibilities

• Perform installation, calibration, troubleshooting, and repair of industrial instrumentation, including pH, ORP, conductivity, turbidity, flow, level, pressure, and temperature transmitters
• Troubleshoot and maintain control panels, PLCs (Allen Bradley/Siemens), VFDs, and motor starters related to water treatment skids
• Diagnose issues within 4-20mA, 0-10V, and digital communication loops (Ethernet/IP, Modbus)
• Work closely with the water operations team to optimize chemical dosing pumps and automated valves for process efficiency
• Execute preventative maintenance (PM) plans on electrical and control systems to minimize downtime
• Assist engineers with the commissioning of new water treatment equipment and upgrades to existing infrastructure
• Read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, and logic diagrams to identify root causes of system failures
• Maintain accurate records of calibration and maintenance activities
• Configure the data acquisition hardware and control screens/HMIs

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• 3+ years of professional experience in industrial maintenance, instrumentation, or industrial electrical work
• Experience working with low voltage controls (24VDC) and high voltage power (up to 480VAC)

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Associate degree in instrumentation technology, electrical engineering technology, or a related field
• Experience specifically within water/wastewater treatment facilities (RO, DI, UF, Clarification and Precipitation, Thermal Evaporators)
• Proficiency with Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix) and Ignition SCADA software
• Strong understanding of fluid dynamics, pumps, and automated valves
• Ability to solder, terminate wires, and fabricate simple brackets/conduit runs
• Knowledge of NEC (National Electrical Code) and NFPA 70E standards
• Experience with chemical handling systems and hazardous production materials

Additional Requirements

• General physical requirements: Standing for long periods, climbing ladders/stairs, lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs, and working in tight quarters
• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, and on-call shifts when needed to support critical infrastructure

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.