About this 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.
DEVELOPMENT TECHNICIAN (PCBA) - 2nd Shift
This role serves as the bridge between production execution and engineering development for the Starlink PCBA team. You will apply hands-on SMT expertise to support the transition of hardware from early development through qualification and into rate production. Working closely with Engineering and Production teams, you will build and troubleshoot pre-production and qualification hardware while helping optimize SMT processes and production lines.
The ideal candidate: has strong SMT/PCBA experience; enjoys working directly with engineers; proven skills for troubleshooting complex issues; possesses excellent attention to detail; and thrives in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Support production engineering during development and pre-production phases by building, assembling, and testing pre-production, qualification, and flight PCBA hardware
• Assist with initial PCBA line setup, equipment programming, qualification of test setups, and transition of new designs into production
• Program, load, and operate automated SMT production machines including pick & place, reflow ovens, stencil printers, conformal coating, AOI, and X-ray systems
• Operate and troubleshoot SMT equipment (pick & place, reflow ovens, stencil printers, conformal coating, AOI, X-ray) with a focus on process stability and yield improvement
• Perform rework and recovery on non-conforming hardware while maintaining design integrity and documenting root causes
• Support continuous improvement projects including test rack builds, factory automation, and production line enhancements
• Thoroughly document processes, failures, and improvements using data to drive corrective actions and yield increases
• Provide surge support for critical production, qualification, or development builds
• Collaborate with engineers to give real-time feedback on manufacturability, DFM opportunities, and process issues
• Assist with training of junior technicians on SMT equipment operation and basic troubleshooting
• Work with production support teams to guarantee the daily success of PCBA production safely, reliably, and at rate
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 1+ years of hands-on experience in SMT/PCBA manufacturing, assembly, or test
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Associates degree, apprenticeship, or military electronics technician training
• Experience working directly with engineers in development or new process introduction (NPI) env