Process Operator Specialist, Air Separation Unit (Starship) - Level 4/5 - Night Shift

SpaceX•Starbase, TX, TX

9d•Onsite

About The Position

SpaceX is building its first production-scale Air Separation Unit (ASU) at Starbase to produce high-purity liquid oxygen for Starship. The ASU is an on-site propellant facility intended to reduce supply risk and establish an operational foundation for producing propellants on the Moon and Mars. The Process Operator Specialist will operate and support cryogenic distillation, turboexpanders, centrifugal compressors, molecular sieve systems, and high-purity LOX production. The role involves monitoring process parameters, following approved procedures, performing field rounds, and qualifying for independent watch standing. The anticipated schedule is 6:00 PM–7:00 AM; hours may be extended, and weekend work or varying shifts may be required based on operational needs. The position requires working safely at heights, in confined spaces, and around heavy equipment and machinery, as well as meeting the stated physical demands. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must meet the stated U.S. citizenship, immigration, refugee, or asylum status criteria, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations. SpaceX states that employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

Associate degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, or process engineering technology, or at least 6 years of experience in an industrial environment or plant operations involving air separation units, cryogenics, industrial gases, chemicals, or oil and gas.
At least 4 years of experience operating or supporting automated industrial processes.
Ability to work the anticipated 6:00 PM–7:00 AM schedule; flexibility for extended hours, weekends, and varying shifts depending on site operational needs.
Ability to safely work at heights up to 500 feet, in confined spaces, and while operating heavy equipment and machinery.
Ability to perform the listed physical requirements, including standing, sitting, walking, overhead reaching, climbing, kneeling/crouching, twisting, pushing/pulling up to 75 pounds unassisted, and lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds unassisted, for the stated durations.
Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees for 6 hours or more per day.
Must meet the stated ITAR eligibility criteria or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Experience using P&IDs or process flow diagrams for isolation or LOTO boundary definition, valve lineups, troubleshooting, or field rounds.
Hands-on experience in a cryogenic plant, industrial gas facility, chemical plant, utilities plant, launch pad, or propellant farm.
Exposure to compressors, pumps, heat exchangers, or other industrial rotating or process equipment.
Experience with a distributed control system (such as Honeywell, Siemens, or Rockwell) and/or HMI operation.
Familiarity with mechanical equipment isolation or basic maintenance on industrial rotating machinery.
Experience with lockout/tagout, job hazard analysis, hot work permitting, confined space, or Process Safety Management practices.
Familiarity with 120V and 480V industrial electrical equipment; medium-voltage experience is a plus.
Track record of catching equipment or process issues early and raising them to the shift lead.
Experience in shift operations (nights, weekends, or 24/7) in an industrial environment.
Interest in learning process behavior from first principles, including thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat and mass transfer.

Responsibilities

Monitor the ASU through a distributed control system/human-machine interface and conduct field rounds to identify and promptly report equipment or process deviations.
Troubleshoot, maintain, and support calibration of ASU equipment, including compressors, turboexpanders, cryogenic distillation columns, molecular sieve beds, gas analyzers, control valves, and instrumented electrical systems.
Execute plant startups, shutdowns, mode changes, and abnormal-situation responses according to approved operating procedures and alarm response matrices.
Collect process samples, perform basic field testing, accurately log operational data, and promptly report deviations.
Work with engineers, Lead Operations Specialists, technicians, and fabricators to implement fluid, mechanical, and control-system designs and improvements in the field.
Partner with engineering to develop, review, and refine operating procedures, checklists, and troubleshooting guides based on cryogenic physics and first principles.
Execute lockout/tagout, permit-to-work, job hazard analyses, and Process Safety Management activities.
Maintain 5S standards, housekeeping, and visual management in the ASU area.
Coordinate across disciplines to ensure resources, spares, and support are available; support critical-spares inventory and reliability efforts.
Learn and master standard operating procedures for major ASU systems and deepen understanding of cryogenic thermodynamics, distillation theory, adsorption physics, and equipment performance maps.
Contribute to continuous improvement in specific power consumption, product purity, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness.