Water Treatment Technician, Solar Cells (Starlink)

SpaceX•Bastrop, TX

12d

About The Position

SpaceX is developing Starlink, a low-latency broadband internet system delivered through a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites. The Water Treatment Technician supports Starlink manufacturing by owning production water-treatment processes and equipment performance, monitoring process parameters, maintaining components, and addressing indicators of instability or malfunction before they cause problems. The role supports the development, implementation, and operation of equipment, facilities, treatment, and manufacturing technologies for high-volume production. Work may support zero-liquid-discharge water-treatment facilities, the Solar Cells facility, PCB operations, or the Chip Packaging Plant. The technician ensures reliable water quality for partner teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and works with manufacturing, EHS, and engineering teams.

Requirements

High school degree or equivalency certificate.
At least 2 years of experience in a hands-on technical position, or an associate degree in a STEM field.
Must be open to all shifts, overtime, and/or weekends as needed; the work schedule will evolve during production-line bring-up.
Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds unassisted and walk and stand for long periods.
Must be comfortable working in a production environment with extensive use of hazardous chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and solvents.
Must be able to wear appropriate PPE for a laboratory and electro-chemical manufacturing environment.
Must be comfortable climbing ladders and performing grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with computers and Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
At least 3 years of hands-on experience in ultrapure water production and/or industrial wastewater treatment; semiconductor, pharmaceutical, or electronics manufacturing experience is ideal.
Experience in the 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 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, including isolating malfunctions, disassembling industrial machinery, and repairing or replacing bearings, gears, and structural components.
Experience with lockout/tagout, job hazard analysis, and hot-work permitting.
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 for working with technicians and cross-functional teams.
Ability to prioritize tasks and projects while staying organized.
Ability to adapt rapidly to changing roles and responsibilities, work independently, and operate in a fast-paced environment with minimal oversight.
Current or past IPC-A-600, IPC-6012, or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Operate and monitor ultrapure water systems, including reverse osmosis, electrodeionization, UV disinfection, and filtration.
Manage wastewater treatment processes, including pH neutralization, evaporators, clarification and precipitation, solids dewatering, advanced oxidation processes, crystallizers, and other processes.
Perform preventative maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting on pumps, valves, sensors, membranes, and control systems.
Conduct daily water-quality sampling, analysis, and data logging, including measurements such as TOC, silica, metals, and conductivity.
Respond to alarms, investigate process excursions, and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime.
Collaborate with manufacturing, EHS, and engineering teams to optimize water use, reduce waste, and implement sustainability initiatives.
Follow OSHA, EPA, and SpaceX safety protocols, including lockout/tagout and chemical-handling requirements.
Execute startup and shutdown procedures for production equipment.
Identify equipment and process deviations and perform corrective actions.
Work with engineers and technicians to create operating procedures.
Use systems knowledge and documentation such as schematics and parts lists to create and maintain an efficient hardware inventory system, including procurement of critical spares.
Identify continuous-improvement opportunities for uptime and quality.
Safely handle, transport, and load chemicals and operate chemical-handling equipment.
Read, interpret, and follow technical documents such as manufacturing work instructions.
Maintain a clean and organized work area and uphold 5S standards.
Perform other related duties as assigned to support an efficient and effective work environment.