Lead Engineer, Development Operations (Starlink)

SpaceX•Bastrop, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system — thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. Development Operations in Bastrop is the shop that turns engineering intent into hardware: fixtures, tooling, CNC, weld, modular automation cells, and the mechanical catalog that factory and test programs pull from. We are looking for a Lead Engineer to own that engineering stack — design, DFM, and the engineers who run it — so programs hit schedule without a hero on every job. This role encompasses design, analysis, and manufacturing. You will spearhead large-scope projects from early design trades through fab and handoff. You will define processes, drive requirements, and set the design bar (GD&T, NX, fixtures that the mill can actually cut). You partner with Development Supervisors who own technician people ops.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
2+ year leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team
3+ years of hands-on design, analysis, build, and/or manufacturing of mechanical or electromechanical hardware

Nice To Haves

2+ years of experience with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent)
Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept through fab and handoff
Design for manufacturability (DFM/DFA) with design teams — including pushing back on over-constrained CAD
GD&T you can inspect
Fixtures, tooling, weldments, or modular automation / material-handling equipment
CNC, conventional machining, or weld/fab process
FEA / first-principles structures calcs on tooling and stands
NX and Teamcenter (or equivalent PLM)
DFMEA / PFMEA
Vendor fab, NCR, and cross-functional schedule pressure with incomplete requirements
Strong desire to mentor engineers
High-mix development shop

Responsibilities

Lead the Development Operations engineering team (Build Engineers and design/DFM ICs): hire, coach, set goals, and raise the bar on quality, throughput, and schedule
Own design for manufacturability from concept through fab: original CAD, GD&T, design reviews, and design changes that reduce cost, complexity, and cycle time
Own fixtures, tooling, workholding, and mechanical catalog items (cells, conveyors, buffers, stands) from raw material through handoff to the customer program
Act as technical decision maker for the shop engineering stack — what we make, how we make it, and when we push a design back to the RE
Partner with Development Supervisors on intake, queue, and expedite
Partner with CNC programmers, machinists, welders, ACE specialists, and inventory
Drive NCR, root cause, and corrective action on non-conforming product (tooling, cells, fixtures, piece parts)
Create and maintain build documentation: procedures, MBOMs, integration instructions, and planning that technicians and vendors can execute
Interface with supply chain and vendors so piece parts and sub-assemblies hit rate
Present look-ahead with a recommendation (options, capacity, risk)
Support Development Test with fixtures and fab