Tooling Design Engineer, Solar Cell Factory (Starlink)

SpaceX • Bastrop, TX

1d

About The Position

SpaceX’s Solar Cell team is scaling production of high-efficiency solar cells for Starlink constellations, launch vehicles, and other space applications. The Tooling Design Engineer will design, build, and optimize mechanical and automation systems used in solar cell manufacturing equipment and material movement mechanisms. The role focuses on safe electrical design, robust and efficient mechanical systems, and ownership of existing systems for optimization as well as development of new equipment, while minimizing risks and maximizing factory efficiency.

The engineer will own electronics manufacturing subsystems and equipment from conceptual design through high-volume production and automation ramp. The position includes developing design criteria, collaborating on requirements, optimizing systems, testing and iterating on products, and designing production lines and their associated mechanical, control, and automation systems. The engineer will also monitor equipment uptime, address bottlenecks and downtime, and assess vendor-supplied equipment to ensure production rate, yield, and uptime targets are met.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
• At least 1 year of professional experience with mechanical or electromechanical design, analysis, testing, and/or manufacturing; internship experience is applicable.
• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones.
• Must meet SpaceX 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.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in mechanical design and analysis.
• At least 2 years of hands-on project experience with complex mechanical systems, preferably as a team lead.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD; NX is preferred.
• Solid understanding and application of GD&T, mechanical engineering fundamentals, structural analysis, and failure modes of complex mechanical systems.
• Prior ownership of a complex component or assembly from initial design through high-volume production ramp.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and designing for manufacturability.
• Exposure to production machinery, industrial sensors, and equipment such as motion systems, dispense systems, temperature controllers, laser distance sensors, injection molders, and die casters.
• Self-motivation and strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own electronics manufacturing subsystems and equipment from conceptual design through high-volume production and automation ramp.
• Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization.
• Test and iterate on products through failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), reliability modeling, and stress testing to predict and mitigate failures and improve overall equipment effectiveness.
• Design and develop production lines, including robot end effector design, process development, control system design, and automation programming.
• Monitor and track equipment uptime metrics using data analytics tools; identify bottlenecks and causes of downtime, and implement preventive measures such as predictive maintenance schedules.
• Evaluate and select equipment suppliers based on reliability, performance requirements, and business needs.
• Oversee installation, commissioning, and ongoing performance of vendor-supplied process equipment to achieve target rate, yield, and uptime.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level