Water Treatment Specialist, UPW & Wastewater (Starlink)

SpaceX•Bastrop, TX

9h•Onsite

About The Position

SpaceX is developing Starlink, a low latency, broadband internet system, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. Starlink aims to provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity globally. The company is seeking talented specialists to drive manufacturing tools and processes from concept to full-scale production, fostering collaboration between engineering, development, and production teams. The success of Starlink relies on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, security, and user experience of its products. As a Water Treatment Specialist on Starlink, you will be responsible for the performance and reliability of state-of-the-art production processes and equipment. This includes monitoring process parameters, maintaining components, and proactively addressing potential issues. The role involves the development, implementation, and operationalization of equipment, facilities, treatment, and manufacturing process technologies for high volume production. This position specifically focuses on two Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) water treatment facilities: one supporting PCB operations (North America's largest printed circuit fab) and another for the Chip Packaging Plant (featuring a panel level packaging process). You will ensure reliable water quality for partner teams within a fast-paced, innovative manufacturing environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency certificate
Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline; OR 3+ years of experience working with automated processes in one of the following areas: Control room operations, Plant operations, Fluid control systems

Nice To Haves

Experience with process parameters and engineering units for temperature, pressure, flow, and power
Ability to read and understand P&ID and schematic wiring diagrams
Experience with mechanical equipment and systems requiring the isolation of the malfunction, disassembly of industrial machinery, and repair/replacement of bearings, gears, and structural components
Experience with lock out-tag out, job hazard analysis, and hot work permitting
Proficiently use a computer and MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
3+ years of hands-on experience in UPW production and/or industrial wastewater treatment (semiconductor, pharma, or electronics manufacturing ideal)
Experience in a chemical manufacturing or oil and gas industry
Strong knowledge of water chemistry, ion exchange, RO/EDI systems, and wastewater technologies
Proficiency with water quality instrumentation and basic PLC troubleshooting
Experience working in a manufacturing environment or wet lab
Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals
Experience using production and inventory management software such as MES/ERP
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to work closely with other technicians and cross-functional teams
Ability to identify and maintain priorities for tasks and projects while staying organized
Ability to rapidly change roles and responsibilities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight
Current or past certification for IPC-A-600, IPC-6012 or equivalent

Responsibilities

Monitor, troubleshoot, root cause, and improve UPW (ultrapure water) systems, including reverse osmosis (RO), electrode ionization (EDI), UV disinfection, and filtration
Monitor, troubleshoot, root cause, and improve wastewater treatment processes, including pH neutralization, evaporators (multiple-effect vacuum and MVR units), clarification/precipitation and solids dewatering, AOP (advanced oxidation processes), crystallizers, and a variety of other processes (TMF, UF, etc.)
Perform routine preventative maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting on pumps, valves, sensors, membranes, and control systems; help to define maintenance schedules and support activities
Define daily water quality sampling, analysis (e.g., TOC, silica, metals, conductivity), and data logging requirements and tools needed to do them, like Hach analyzers or similar
Respond to alarms, investigate excursions, and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime (target: >99.9% system availability)
Collaborate with manufacturing, EHS, and engineering teams to optimize water usage, reduce waste, and implement sustainability initiatives
Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and SpaceX safety protocols, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) and chemical handling
Identify equipment and process deviations and perform corrective actions
Work with engineers and technicians to create operating procedures
Use knowledge of systems and existing documentation like schematics and parts lists to create and maintain a mature and efficient hardware inventory system – including procurement of critical spares
Identify continuous improvement opportunities for uptime and quality
Safely handle chemicals (including transporting and loading) and chemical handling equipment
Ensure 5S standards are upheld by maintaining a clean and organized work area
Perform other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment
Work with engineers, technicians, and fabricators to implement fluid and mechanical designs in the field