Structural Welder, Ground Support Equipment (Starship) - Night Shift

SpaceX • Brownsville, TX

4h • Onsite

About The Position

SpaceX is hiring a Structural Welder for Starship ground support equipment at Starbase, Texas. The role joins a team of structural fitters and welders building and repairing complex structural launch hardware and test stands. The work directly supports vehicle testing and Starship launches from the Texas coast.

The welder fabricates, fits, and welds metal components and structural weldments, using manual and semi-automatic processes. Under a lead welder’s supervision, the role may involve interpreting engineering drawings and specifications to plan welding work when procedural information is unavailable. The position operates in a fast-paced environment with changing program priorities and requires safe work practices, visual inspection of welds, and a focus on improving operations and turnaround times.

This is a night-shift position with typical hours Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Overtime and weekend availability are required as operational needs vary. The work includes outdoor exposure to heat, cold, and rain; fumes, odors, and noise; work at heights up to 500 feet; and work in confined spaces and around heavy equipment and machinery. The role also has substantial physical requirements, including standing, walking, reaching overhead, climbing, kneeling, crouching, and lifting or pushing/pulling within the limits described in the posting.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• At least 2 years of hands-on experience with one or more of SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, or FCAW, including gas-shielded FCAW (FCAW-G); experience from a college or vocational welding program qualifies.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must be available for overtime and weekends as the schedule varies with site operational needs.
• Must be capable of safely working at heights up to 500 feet, in confined spaces, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the stated physical requirements.
• Must satisfy the stated ITAR 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.
• Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Physical requirements include standing and walking up to 10 hours per day; overhead reaching up to 10 hours per day; pushing or pulling up to 75 pounds unassisted for 1–2 hours per day; lifting or carrying up to 50 pounds unassisted for 1–2 hours per day; climbing ladders or stairs up to 6 hours per day; kneeling or crouching up to 10 hours per day; and upper-body twisting up to 6 hours per day.
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees for 6 hours or more per day.

Nice To Haves

• At least 5 years of experience using FCAW-G welding.
• Ability to read welding symbols according to AWS 2.4.
• Experience as a combination welder, with the ability to fit and weld carbon structure using FCAW, SMAW, GTAW, or GMAW processes.
• At least 3 years of blueprint-reading experience directly related to structural weldments.
• Knowledge of standard tools, materials, welding techniques, and practices of the welding trade.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and effective safety precautions of the trade.
• Experience with precision measuring instruments such as a theodolite, total station, or laser levels.
• Experience with overhead cranes, forklifts, and rigging.
• Ability to rapidly change roles and responsibilities in a fast-paced, challenging work environment.

Responsibilities

• Complete welding assignments for the construction and repair of site structural weldments on time, safely, and professionally.
• Cut, trim, fit, and fabricate metal components to dimensions for building and assembling test and launch hardware.
• Under the supervision of a lead welder, analyze engineering drawings and specifications to plan welding operations when procedural information is unavailable.
• Use manual and semi-automatic welding processes to fit and weld complex structural weldments.
• Visually inspect own welds according to American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1.
• Obtain and maintain internal licenses, operator permits, or certifications as required.
• Continuously seek to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, and streamline work processes.
• Work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities based on program needs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to help ensure an efficient and effective work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED