Question
5-10

Supervisor Tooling Operations (Starship)

2/25/2026

This role involves leading and managing a staff of approximately 30 welders and painters, handling all performance management tasks, scheduling, and ensuring efficient coordination of personnel and equipment. The supervisor will also manage contractor relationships and work with engineering teams to improve designs, processes, and work instructions.

Working Hours

40 hours/week

Company Size

1,001-5,000 employees

Language

English

Visa Sponsorship

No

About The Company
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA. For more information, visit www.spacex.com.
About the Role

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.

SUPERVISOR, TOOLING OPERATIONS (STARSHIP)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead and manage a staff of ~30 welders and painters including all performance management related tasks
  • Responsible for scheduling work, assigning work, and assessing completed work
  • Coordinate personnel and equipment to be utilized in the most effective, and efficient manner possible in an ever-changing landscape
  • Manage the performance and personal growth of these highly skilled individuals as they look to grow their careers, and help the company achieve its goals
  • Manage contractors, and our relationships with them to maximize the value of these relationships and execution of the projects they support
  • Maintain and improve upon existing equipment, processes, and procedures, and fully exploit all the resources at your disposal to maximize team impact and effectiveness
  • Work with management and engineering teams to streamline designs, processes, and review/recommend work instruction improvements when needed
  • Apply welding codes and hold high workmanship standards with your team
  • Enforce site and personnel safety
  • Assess candidates and provide recommendations in the hiring process

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree or associate degree and 4+ years of flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), or gas metal arc welding (GMAW) experience; OR 8+ years of professional experience in metal fabrication in lieu of a degree
  • 2+ years of experience in a leadership role

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • General welding, cutting, and fabrication equipment knowledge, theory, application, maintenance, and testing
  • Experience managing more than 10 employees
  • Ability to interpret drawings and weld symbols per AWS D17.1
  • Knowledge of AWS D1.1, D1.6, and D1.2
  • Fabrication of large-scale welded assemblies to tight dimensional tolerances
  • Ability to engage and interact with other teams performing various disciplines in a professional and respectful manner while working towards a common goal
  • Ability to manage stressful situations and changes in company direction, helping teams navigate these situations with grace and skill
  • Excellent problem-solving skills relevant to the work being performed
  • Experience with blueprint reading
  • Experience with GD&T interpretation skill

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to work one of the following shifts:
    • Monday - Friday (6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
    • Monday - Friday (6:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.)
  • Must be willing to work long hours, nights, and weekends with limited notice
  • Sit: Up to 3 hours per day
  • Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) 2 hours or longer per day
  • Overhead reach: Up to 1 hour per day
  • Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
  • Lift/Carry: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) 2 hours or longer per day
  • Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 3 hours per day
  • Kneel/Crouch: Up to 3 hours per day
  • Upper body twist: Up to 3 hours per day
  • Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees up to 3 hours per day
  • Candidate must be capable of safely using an air purifying respirator, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description
  • Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com

Key Skills
Performance ManagementSchedulingWork AssignmentPersonnel CoordinationContractor ManagementProcess ImprovementWelding CodesWorkmanship StandardsSafety EnforcementHiring AssessmentFCAWSMAWGMAWBlueprint ReadingGD&T InterpretationProblem Solving
Categories
Management & LeadershipManufacturingEngineeringTrades
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