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.
STARSHIP ENGINEER, FOD CONTROL
As a Starship Engineer specializing in FOD Control, you will own Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention and elimination across Starship Production while developing engineering and manufacturing processes that maximize quality at high rate. You will employ root cause investigations and data review to deploy robust fabrication methods, work instructions, tooling design, inspection and cleaning measures. Engineering design, process, facility and supply chain controls will all be areas of ownership.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Own FOD control strategy and execution for Starship Production; ensure facilities and processes comply with AS9146 (Foreign Object Debris Prevention Program) and related aerospace/defense standards.
• Partner with design engineering to apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and design-for-cleanliness principles—sealing machined areas, eliminating hidden cavities where debris can lodge, and enabling clean assembly line layouts—while influencing flight design and vehicle architecture.
• Develop and enforce manufacturing, integration, assembly, welding, NDE, cleanliness, and checkout processes across work centers, including Clean-As-You-Go methodologies, tool accountability tracking, and hardware kitting protocols.
• Design and implement precision tooling and poka-yoke systems for work access, build fixturing, lifting & rigging, fluids, and mechanical/avionics/propulsion testing to eliminate assembly error, prevent FOD introduction, improve quality, and minimize cycle time.
• Develop, qualify, and automate manufacturing processes and in-situ inspection techniques to enable high-rate, repeatable production with higher yield and lower takt time.
• Evaluate and integrate automated FOD detection systems, millimeter-wave radar, and specialized mechanical sweeping equipment into production and integration environments.
• Define inspection requirements, author planning/test plans/work instructions, and create training for production and inspection—including FOD awareness—ensuring stable quality as volume scales.
• Contain non-conforming hardware with quality, production, and design; conduct build quality and FOD audits to identify high-impact issues; drive corrective action and manage fleet risk.
• Challenge and simplify requirements where design intent, cleanliness, and production rate conflict; manage transition of parts and assemblies from development to high-rate production with FOD controls built in.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, ch