Process Operator Specialist, Air Separation Unit (Starship) - Level 4/5 - Night Shift

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.

PROCESS OPERATOR SPECIALIST, AIR SEPARATION UNIT (STARSHIP) - LEVEL 4/5 - NIGHT SHIFT

SpaceX is building its first production-scale Air Separation Unit (ASU) at Starbase to produce the high-purity liquid oxygen that powers Starship. This is not just another industrial plant—it is the critical on-site propellant factory that eliminates supply risk for the most ambitious launch vehicle ever built and lays the operational foundation for producing propellants on the Moon and Mars.

As a process operator specialist on the ASU team, you will operate and support cryogenic distillation, turboexpanders, centrifugal compressors, molecular sieve systems, and high-purity LOX production. You will monitor process parameters, execute approved procedures, complete thorough field rounds, and qualify toward independent watch standing. If you thrive in high-stakes cryogenic environments, want to learn these systems from first principles, and want ownership of mission-critical hardware as you grow, this is the role for you.

• Monitor the ASU via distributed control system/human-machine interface and conduct thorough field rounds, identifying equipment and process deviations early and reporting them immediately

• Troubleshoot, maintain, and support calibration of critical ASU equipment including centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, turboexpanders, cryogenic distillation columns, molecular sieve beds, gas analyzers, control valves, and instrumented electrical systems.

• Execute plant startups, shutdowns, mode changes, and abnormal situation response in accordance with approved operating procedures and alarm response matrices.

• Collect process samples, perform basic field testing, log operational data accurately, and report deviations immediately.

• Work with engineers, Lead Operations Specialists, technicians, and fabricators to implement fluid, mechanical, and control system designs and improvements in the field.

• Partner with the engineering team to develop, review, and refine operating procedures, checklists, and troubleshooting guides grounded in cryogenic physics and first principles.

• Execute lockout/tagout (LOTO), permit-to-work, job hazard analyses, and all Process Safety Management (PSM) activities with absolute discipline.

• Maintain rigorous 5S standards, housekeeping, and visual management so the ASU is the cleanest and best-organized area at Starbase—reflecting pride of ownership.

• Coordinate across disciplines to ensure resources, spares, and support are available; support critical spares inventory and reliability efforts.

• Learn and master standard operating procedures for all major ASU systems while continuously deepening understanding of cryogenic thermodynamics, distillation theory, adsorption physics, and equipment performance maps.

• Contribute to continuous improvement in specific power consumption, product purity, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness.

• Associate degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, or process engineering technology; or 6+ years of experience working in an industrial environment or plant operations dealing with air separation units, cryogenics, industrial gases, chemical, or oil & gas

• 4+ years of experience operating or supporting automated industrial processes

• Experience using P&IDs and/or process flow diagrams as part of work (isolation or LOTO