Welding Engineer

About this role

SpaceX seeks a Welding Engineer in Hawthorne to develop and optimize welding processes for Falcon 9, Starship, Dragon, and Starlink production. You'll collaborate with design and manufacturing teams to qualify welds, conduct testing, and implement advanced joining techniques across multiple platforms.

What you'll do

• Develop, optimize, and qualify welding processes including electron beam, laser beam, GTAW, orbital tube, resistance, GMAW, friction stir, and plasma arc welding
• Support production operations on full-scale assemblies, directing manufacturing engineers and welders on proper techniques
• Conduct root cause analysis and work with design, tooling, automation, and materials engineering teams
• Set up welding qualification tests, interpret mechanical testing and NDE results, and develop innovative inspection techniques
• Implement process improvements and automated welding solutions to enhance consistency and efficiency
• Evaluate new welding technologies to improve rate, quality, and efficiency

What they're looking for

• Multiple welding processes (EB, laser, GTAW, GMAW, plasma arc, friction stir, resistance welding)
• Hands-on welding experience with stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium, copper, and aluminum
• Weld strength testing methodologies and standards (ASTM E8, E399, E740, ISO 15653, AWS standards)
• Metallographic and fractography analysis including optical and SEM techniques
• Robot programming for automated welding solutions
• Tooling design for welded assemblies to reduce distortion
• Root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
• Multi-tasking and cross-department communication

Benefits

• Competitive base salary ($100,000-$140,000 depending on level and experience)
• Long-term incentives including company stock and cash awards
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan and employee stock purchase plan discount
• Paid parental leave and 3 weeks paid vacation
• Short and long-term disability and life insurance

Likely interview questions

• Describe your hands-on experience with multiple welding processes—which have you worked with most extensively and what challenges did you encounter?
• Walk us through how you would approach qualifying a new welding process for a critical aerospace component from design to production.