Automation & Controls Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Redmond, WA
Salary: $100,000–$135,000 / yr
Posted: 8 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $166k

This role $118k

$89k $205k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays less than 91% of similar roles. Most pay $137,500–$194,125 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $118k versus about $166k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 851 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 590 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Automation & Controls Engineer

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The Automation & Controls Engineer (Starlink Optical Products) joins the Starlink Optical Payloads Integration & Test team to automate production lines for inter-satellite lasers, optical transceivers, and star trackers. This role involves designing, building, and qualifying projects spanning machine design, robotics, and manufacturing processes from initial ideation to production. Key responsibilities include architecting and debugging PLC code, implementing vision systems for robotic guidance and quality control, and creating electrical, pneumatic, and fluid schematics. Candidates must utilize technologies such as Beckhoff TwinCAT, ABB Rapid, C#, Python, SQL, and Cognex Vision Pro. The work focuses on increasing manufacturing efficiency through data-driven systems, field bus networking protocols like EtherCAT and Modbus, and ensuring safety compliance with ANSI/RIA15.06 and OSHA standards for high-volume optical payload production.

Skills

PLC Beckhoff TwinCAT Python C# .NET SQL ABB Rapid MQTT OPC-UA OpenCV Cognex Vision Pro EtherCAT PROFINET Ethernet/IP Modbus TCP/RTU HMI SCADA EPLAN Machine Vision Robotics

What you'll do

Design, build, and implement automation projects including machine design, robotics, and manufacturing processes.
Architect, write, and debug PLC code for industrial automation.
Implement machine vision systems for robotic guidance, quality control, and data collection.
Create electrical, pneumatic, and fluid schematics for control panels.
Design user interfaces to make complex machines easy to use and troubleshoot.
Design systems to track factory performance and increase manufacturing efficiency using data.
Implement ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant systems to ensure factory safety.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or another STEM discipline.
1+ years of experience in the design and commissioning of automation and control systems in a manufacturing environment.
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible for Department of State authorization.
Proven ability to solve complex problems with simple solutions and little supervision (preferred).
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (preferred).
Hands-on experience with industrial automation hardware, field bus networking, or specific machinery and processes (preferred).
Proficiency in PLC programming, robotics programming, HMI, SCADA, IoT, SQL, C#, .NET, or Python (preferred).
Experience in electrical sizing, fail-safe circuit design, and troubleshooting industrial electrical systems (preferred).