Test Stand Maintenance Technician

About the role

Maintenance technicians at the Rocket Development and Test Facility work in a fast-paced testing environment, where the extraordinary becomes the everyday. This role helps with the build, activation, modification, and improvement of fluid and mechanical systems that test the most powerful high-volume rocket engines in the world.

With a focus on repairs and reliability, maintenance technicians are expected to use every tool they have to keep the rocket development and production test stands working well. This work includes performing corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance on test systems, troubleshooting mechanical and electrical hardware, and giving operations and design feedback to drive improvements across our entire test site.

Responsibilities

• Modify and maintain test stands and ground support equipment that support testing of fully integrated flight vehicles, individual rocket engines, and various rocket components
• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair hardware associated with rocket test stand systems, typically part of fluid, structural, and mechanical subsystems
• Maintain structural/mechanical systems and related components such as rollers, bearings, rams, and similar items
• Maintain fluid systems and related components such as process piping, pumps, valves, filters, and similar items
• Collaborate with design and operations engineers to maintain systems in peak operating condition, provide feedback on designs and operations, and promote continual improvement of ground support equipment
• Develop novel methods to streamline and increase the reliability of internal processes across the entire test site
• Follow all regulations and appropriate SpaceX procedures, including quality policies, safety policies, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), National Electrical Code (NEC), and other standards

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 3+ years of experience working with hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical, cryogenic, high-pressure gas, or data systems

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 5+ years of experience working as a maintenance technician, service technician, field service engineer, or mechanic
• Strong experience with schematics and diagrams for fluid routing, instrumentation, and electrical components
• Experience working in a fast-paced production environment in fields such as power generation, oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, or electronics
• Knowledge of vacuum systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, process piping inspections and operations, tubing and pipe fittings, rotating machinery (pumps, air compressors), and a wide variety of mechanical fasteners
• Knowledge of high-pressure gas, hydraulic, cryogenic, flammable, hypergolic, and pyrophoric systems
• Experience with heavy equipment or industrial operations and maintenance
• Experience in equipment maintenance and calibration, instrumentation troubleshooting, process controls, and data and control systems
• Operational knowledge of process instrumentation (pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), load cells, flow meters, and similar items)
• Operational knowledge of basic electrical theory and electrical troubleshooting (multimeter fault finding, soldering and connecting, operation of various crimping tools, and similar items)
• Experience with computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as Maximo, SAP, Oracle, and others

Additional Requirements

• Ability to rapidly change roles and responsibilities while keeping a high sense of urgency in a fast-paced, challenging work environment
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, take individual initiative, and communicate effectively with peers, leadership, and customers
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting the upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, and climbing hand-over-hand
• Ability to work at elevated heights (up to 300 feet) with proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Ability to lift heavy objects (up to 25 pounds) without help
• Ability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed with flexibility
• Ability to work in extreme outdoor environments when needed, including heat, cold, wind, rain, and similar conditions
• Ability to travel to other SpaceX locations as needed (up to 25 percent of the time)
• Ability to work in tight quarters that require physical dexterity

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.