Ultra Precision Machining Specialist - Level 4/5

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

ULTRA PRECISION MACHINING SPECIALIST - LEVEL 4/5

The Ultra Precision Machining Specialist will work in direct support of a supervisory professional engineer to develop and implement engineering process improvements and produce quick-turn, single-digit-micron tolerance machined hardware. This role requires a high level of machining aptitude: the judgment to diagnose hard process problems using theoretical knowledge of manufacturing and mechanical engineering, set the technical standard for first-article quality, and apply engineering principles to close process loops when parts miss. The Ultra Precision Machining Specialist does not run the department or supervise a shift. Under the supervising engineer’s direction, the Ultra Precision Machining Specialist accelerates new-product introduction by engineering the process, and supports yield, cycle-time, cost, and floor-space improvements that the engineer owns and releases to production.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Apply manufacturing-engineering methods, in direct support of the supervising engineer, to the development-machining cell’s CNC specialists and quality specialists on 1st and 2nd shift. Provide technical coaching on process methods only. Do not hire, schedule as a supervisor, discipline, or performance-manage employees
• Apply engineering principles to first-article discipline, process troubleshooting, and root-cause closure when parts or processes miss dimensional, surface, or functional requirements. Recommend corrective process changes to the supervising engineer for review and release
• Engineer, set up, and execute dedicated development CNC processes, CMM inspection plans, and supporting processes so production CNC machines stay on rate work. Process definitions are reviewed by the supervising engineer before transfer
• Deliver new product introduction, process development, and engineering test hardware on schedule, by applying engineering process development — toolpaths, workholding concepts, cutting parameters, datum schemes, and inspection plans — in support of the supervising engineer’s NPI work
• Using engineering analysis, identify and implement yield, cycle-time, cost, and floor-space improvements, and package proven processes for the supervising engineer to transfer into production
• Analyze development-cell process capacity and equipment configuration from an engineering standpoint; forecast technical bottlenecks and recommend blockers for the supervising engineer to remove. Do not own labor management or cell supervision
• No supervisory schedule, timecard, or performance duties. Perform assigned engineering-support work on 1st or 2nd shift as directed by the supervising engineer
• Prepare accessible, correct engineering process documentation — setup sheets, control plans, inspection characteristics, and lessons learned — for the supervising engineer’s review and release
• Execute the technical priorities set by the supervising engineer so development effort is spent on the highest-impact engineering work
• Support the supervising engineer in coordination with design engineering and quality so manufacturing constraints — tolerance stack, datum strategy, tool access, and process capability — inform design earlier
• Think creatively and question the status quo while following documentation and maintaining prescribed quality standards, applying engineering judgment within the process limits released by the supervising engineer
• Specify technical maintenance needs and critical spares so development CNC machines remain capable of the engineering tolerances required. Maintenance administration sits with the equipment owner, not this role
• Provide on-site engineering support at vendor machine shops when it unblocks development or process transfer, under the supervising engineer’s direction: diagnose process problems, recommend parameter and workholding changes, and report results for engineer review
• Perform precision dimensional engineering: CMM programs and hand inspection (micrometers, calipers, profilometers) tied to engineering characteristics, including single-digit-micron features, and feed results back into process correction.
• Develop and troubleshoot CNC processes on Heidenhain, Fanuc, or similar controls, including macro-level program changes and CAM (NX or similar), as applied manufacturing engineering in support of the supervising engineer
• Support engineering test and applied process research on waveguide, RF, or similarly process-sensitive hardware, documenting results for the supervising engineer

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two or more years of post-secondary education or training in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering; OR two or more years of experience diagnosing dimensional, surface-finish, or process-capability issues in precision machining
• 5+ years of experience diagnosing dimensional, surface-finish, or process-capability issues in machining or process development
• 5+ years of experience supporting engineers on development, prototype, or process-engineering hardware

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Additional years applying engineering methods in a machine-shop or development-cell setting. Leadership tenure is not preferred and is not required
• Experience in a development, NPI, prototype, or process-improvement environment, in support of engineering
• Demonstrated experience machining or troubleshooting single digit micron parts, including engineering analysis of the process that produced the deviation
• Advanced CNC programming experience, including macros, used as a process-engineering tool
• CAM experience (NX or similar)
• Precision inspection experience (CMM and/or hand tools such as micrometers, calipers, and profilometers), tied to engineering characteristics and process correction
• Experience with Heidenhain, Fanuc, or similar CNC controls
• Experience with waveguide, RF, or similarly process-sensitive hardware
• Ability to travel to vendors and assist the supervising engineer with high-level machining and process-engineering problems
• Experience contributing technical engineering input on interdisciplinary development projects. Project management of people or budgets is not a duty of this role

​ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Travel to vendor sites may be required to provide engineering process support under the supervising engineer
• Travel to launch and test sites may be required to support engineering test hardware
• Willingness to perform assigned technical work on 1st or 2nd shift while the development cell stands up. This is not shift supervision
• Must be able to show that the day-to-day work is managed, coordinated, and reviewed by the named supervisory professional engineer, and that it directly supports that engineer’s engineering duties

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 4: $46.50 - $57.00
Level 5: $52.00 - $64.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.