Controls Technician - 2nd Shift

SpaceX•Starbase, TX, TX

About The Position

The Controls Technician supports the building and maintenance of data and control systems, including data collection and control hardware, wiring, interface harnesses, and sensors. The team’s goal is to meet test needs for safe, low-cost, and reliable access to space. This role performs technical work on instrumentation, data acquisition and processing systems, process controls, and electrical systems, and collaborates with design engineers to troubleshoot issues arising from test data. The position is typically scheduled Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., excluding overtime. Overtime and weekend availability are required, with schedules varying according to site operational needs. The work may involve extreme outdoor conditions, fumes, odors, noise, heights up to 500 feet, confined spaces, and operating heavy equipment and machinery, as well as the physical activities listed in the posting. Applicants must meet U.S. export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Requirements

Associate degree in instrumentation, control technology, electrical systems, or another electrical field; 3 or more years of professional experience working with controls or electrical systems may substitute for the degree.
At least 2 years of experience working with instrumentation such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, valves, flow meters, multimeters, or oscilloscopes.
Must be available for overtime and weekends as schedules vary with site operational needs; flexibility is required.
Must be capable of safely working at heights up to 500 feet, in confined spaces, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the listed physical requirements.
Must meet the stated U.S. export-control eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain required authorizations.
Typical physical demands include standing, sitting, walking, overhead reaching, and kneeling/crouching for up to 10 hours per day; climbing ladders or stairs and upper-body twisting for up to 6 hours per day; pushing or pulling up to 75 pounds unassisted and lifting or carrying up to 50 pounds unassisted for 1 to 2 hours per day; and working in temperatures over 80 degrees for 6 hours or more per day.

Nice To Haves

Experience with resistance temperature devices (RTDs), silicon diode temperature devices, strain gauges, load cells, displacement transducers, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and turbine, Coriolis, or ultrasonic flow meters.
Basic knowledge of Wheatstone bridge theory, ability to apply Ohm’s law, and understanding of DC electronics.
Operational knowledge of oscilloscopes and multimeters; soldering wires and connectors; using crimping tools; wire stripping; continuity testing; pinning out military-type connectors; routing and tie-wrapping cables; drilling and tapping holes; and building junction boxes.
System-level troubleshooting skills and ability to logically solve instrumentation system problems and determine corrective action.
Experience with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and motor starters, including troubleshooting knowledge.
Knowledge of signal-conditioning concepts for sensors, including Type K, S, and E thermocouples; thermocouple bonding by resistance welding or adhesive bonding; thermocouple probes through thermowell sheaths; and cold-junction compensation.
Experience with DC power supplies, DC-DC converters, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) installations, heat-shrink tubing, cable harnessing, lacing, and strain-relief concepts.
Working knowledge of transducers and operational amplifiers, and measurement techniques for temperature, pressure, flow, displacement, and vibration, including strain-gauge applications; ability to identify required data, acquisition plans, and test parameters and set up equipment accordingly.
Working knowledge of bus architectures such as PCI/PCIe, PXI/PXIe, GPIB, serial, and USB, and data communication technologies.
Demonstrated ability to develop comprehensive project plans covering tasks, stage/gate milestones, and reviews needed to develop and implement solutions.
Intermediate skill using Windows operating systems.
Intermediate skill using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and OneNote.
Knowledge of data acquisition concepts, hardware, and interfacing, including SCXI- and PXI-based systems.

Responsibilities

Perform complex technical assignments involving instrumentation and data acquisition/processing systems.
Maintain, calibrate, configure, monitor, test, troubleshoot, install, and repair instrumentation, process controls, data acquisition systems, and electrical systems.
Investigate, diagnose, correct, and document instrumentation or system malfunctions.
Analyze calibration and processed-data results and assist in interpreting test data.
Adjust, repair, or replace faulty test-setup and equipment components.
Lay out, build, test, troubleshoot, repair, and modify developmental and production electrical and electronic units, assemblies, components, parts, equipment, and systems.
Configure data acquisition hardware.
Perform wire terminations to instruments and verify sensor health, including pressure transducers, thermocouples, valves, limits, and flow meters.
Install connectors, connector pins, terminals, and lugs.
Perform continuity checks and locate and correct wiring errors using measuring instruments such as ohmmeters and sequential continuity checkers.
Adjust, calibrate, align, and modify circuitry and components, and record the effects on unit performance.
Read and interpret planning documents, schematics, wiring diagrams, specifications, drawings, manuals, blueprints, and engineering sketches.
Perform layout and wiring of electrical panels.
Collaborate with design engineers to troubleshoot failures and issues derived from test data.
Perform other related duties as assigned to help ensure an efficient and effective work environment.