Welding Supervisor (Super Heavy Booster)

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.

WELDING SUPERVISOR (SUPER HEAVY BOOSTER)

The Hawthorne Aft Thermal Protection System production team is responsible for building, assembling, and welding all thermal protection subassemblies for the world’s most powerful rocket, Starship. The supervisor of this team will guide a team of welders and technicians in building a brand-new welding workcenter, drive high-quality and safety standards, grow welding expertise, generate creative solutions to overcome issues, and spearhead a production schedule to keep downstream integration areas supplied at increasing launch rates.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage an hourly workforce of welders and technicians. Deliver daily work assignments, oversee personnel development by providing constructive feedback, facilitate conflict resolution, and address repeat issues with corrective actions.

• Create and maintain a tight production schedule and provide clear daily assignments to the team.

• Responsible for recruiting and developing new welders and technicians in the shop. Provide technical mentorship and support to the team.

• Track shop floor metrics and partner with engineering to maximize delivery rate through high asset utilization, low cycle times, and high yield build processes.

• Collaborate with management and engineering teams to streamline work processes, resolve common build issues, and optimize the production line.

• Lead by setting an example; take feedback from all levels of the organization, and motivate your organization to achieve the highest level of results (in safety, quality, and rate).

• Drive shop floor culture of continuous improvement and maintain 5S protocols.

• Ensure employee safety through regular assessments of equipment/tooling health, training, PPE use, and implementation of engineering solutions to mitigate risks. Prioritize personnel safety above all else, halting production when necessary. 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree or 5+ years of experience in a welding role (GTAW, FCAW, GMAW, etc.)

• 2+ years of experience in a leadership role

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of AWS D1.1, D1.6, and D1.2

• General welding, cutting, and fabrication equipment knowledge

• Experience building, leading and consistently maintaining cohesive teams

• Organized and self-driven, capable of working independently with little direction in a fast-paced/cross-functional environment

• Ability to read, interpret controlled documentation, and processes such as: mechanical drawings, GD&T, assembly procedures/work instructions, schematics, engineering drawings, parts lists, wiring diagrams, layout drawings, etc.

• Experience effectively communicati