Composites Technician (COPV)

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.

COMPOSITES TECHNICIAN (COPV)

The Starship COPV Composites Technician manufactures flight-critical composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) used to store high-pressure gases on Starship and Super Heavy. This is a hands-on production role: preparing metallic liners, filament-winding the composite overwrap, curing, and trimming, finishing, and assembling COPV hardware to engineering drawings and process specifications.

This position is onsite at a SpaceX production facility supporting Starship COPV manufacturing. The successful candidate is detail-oriented, comfortable working from travelers and work instructions, and able to produce consistent, high-quality composite work in a fast-paced flight-hardware environment.

• Prepare metallic COPV liners and bond interfaces for overwrap, including grit blast, hand abrasion, and power abrasion

• Manufacture COPVs by filament winding composite fiber onto liners, including hoop and helical winding patterns, fiber tension, and resin application (wet winding and/or towpreg)

• Set up, operate, and tend filament winding equipment; load liners, verify winding programs, and monitor fiber path, bandwidth, and resin wet-out during the wrap

• Mix, handle, and apply resins and adhesives per process specification, including pot life, mix ratio, and material traceability

• Cure COPV overwraps and bonded assemblies in ovens or autoclaves, including thermocouple placement and process monitoring

• Trim and finish composite and composite-metallic COPV assemblies to drawing requirements

• Assemble COPV hardware, including setup, bonding, and fastener installation at bosses, fittings, and related structure

• Complete basic layouts on parts and assemblies to establish reference points and verify dimensions using calipers, micrometers, precision scales, and torque wrenches

• Follow travelers, work instructions, and standard operating procedures; record work and nonconformances as required

• Maintain FOD control, material traceability, and a clean, organized work area in a high-rate production environment

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate

• 1+ years of experience working with in a manufacturing environment

• Experience manufacturing composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) or other filament-wound pressure-critical hardware

• Experience operating CNC or programmable filament winding machines

• Experience controlling hoop and helical wind patterns, fiber tension, bandwidth, and resin content

• Experience drilling, reaming, honing, and/or countersinking close-tolerance holes, and installing fasteners with the correct tool for the job (drill motor, power screwdriver, C-squeeze, ratchet wrench, nut runner, rivet gun and bucking bar, etc.)

• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, including drawing symbols, flag notes, and general notes

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and to work from travelers and SOPs (standard operating procedures)

• Experience with oven or autoclave cure cycles and thermocouple placement

• Experience building flight hardware or other pressure-critical composite structures

• Attention to detail and accuracy while working in a fast-paced production environment

• Standing for long periods, climbing