Six Figure Work

Manufacturing Engineer (Raptor Valves Machining)

SpaceX

Company websitespacex.com (SpaceX, opens in new tab)

Base salary $100K  to $160K

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Hawthorne, CA

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  • LocationHawthorne, CA
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (3 h ago) · observed since

About this job

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.

MANUFACTURING ENGINEER (RAPTOR VALVES MACHINING)  

As a Manufacturing Engineer for Raptor machining, you will have the opportunity to influence, scale, and solve challenging problems relating to the production of Raptor machined piece parts and processing. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment with ever-changing scope and focus areas. This individual understands how to best design for manufacturing and will conceptualize/implement full-scale production processes for machining our critical hardware within production rate and cost goals. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Identify, develop, and implement machining processes to help solve for engine cost, quality, and production rate – specifically focused on valve, turbopump, thrust chamber or injector hardware.
  • Work between manufacturing and design engineers, machinists, technicians, and quality to ensure processes are robust and any production problems are quickly solved.
  • Partner with design to identify and implement design for manufacturing (DFM) updates at both the piece part and system level, own change management into production.
  • Aggressively implement machining process controls that allow parts to run ‘lights out’. Leverage latest technologies and programming strategies to reduce in-cycle intervention.
  • Be responsible for part or part family quality; understand quality landscape, and drive projects to ensure dimensions meet part requirements with low overhead.
  • Drive machining processes toward statistically controlled (SPC) environment. Develop and implement tools needed to show capability.
  • Oversee full circle machining process from fixture design and manufacturing, CAM programming and program refinement, cutting tool selection, and buyoff/inspection methodologies.
  • Constantly challenge each process, part, operation to create the most manufacturable and reliable engine hardware possible.
  • Work with production to ensure the hardware you are responsible for is delivered on time or ahead of schedule.
  • Oversee introduction and implementation of new products and products revisions, frequently multiple at a given time.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline or physics.
  • 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment (student project team and internship experience qualifies).

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Strong experience with machining concepts, problems and producing hardware.
  • Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced, problem-solving environment.
  • Experience in design or product development engineering role.
  • Master's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering.
  • Ability to work on multiple projects and initiatives in parallel.
  • Mechanical component and/or tooling design and analysis (3D computer-aided design).
  • Experience with process development from R&D to volume manufacturing.
  • Experience writing work instructions and procedures for critical aerospace parts.
  • Experience in a production environment within the aerospace industry.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • This is a hands-on position that will require standing for long durations of your day and working directly with hardware on the floor.
  • Must be comfortable stooping, bending, and standing.
  • Position may require occasional travel, long hours or weekend work.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected]. 

Source: SpaceX on Greenhouse · View original posting (opens in new tab)

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($100,000) is above 0% of the 2,090 Engineering (non-software) roles in California listed on this site; 133 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $146,900; the middle half runs from $125,000 to $173,750.

Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 7, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live SpaceX roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live SpaceX roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Manufacturing Engineer (Raptor Valves Machining) (this listing)$100K - $160K
Operations Engineer, Applied AI (Application Software)$100K - $160K
Loads & Dynamics Engineer (Starshield)$100K - $160K
Manufacturing Engineer - Supplier Development, Optics & Optomechanical Systems (Starlink)$100K - $165K
Mechanical Engineer, Satellite Harnessing (Starlink)$100K - $165K
Supplier Development Engineer, Silicon & Packaging (Starlink)$100K - $165K
Supplier Development Engineer, Manufacturing (Falcon & Dragon)$100K - $140K

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All SpaceX roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
  2. First observed on the employer's board
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-08-05
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Hawthorne, CA (Levels 1-2 combined)

Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Method
Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.