EngineeringOn-site

Sr. Fluids Systems Engineer, Solar Cell Factory (Starlink)

SpaceX · On-site

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Last seen by MeritLog September 12, 2026Source: GreenhouseSource version: greenhouse-job-board-v1

MeritLog read this listing from SpaceX's Greenhouse job board and last checked it on September 12, 2026.

Source: the employer's Greenhouse job board. Open the original listing for current details.

Job details

Work model: On-site
Salary: Not listed by source
Location: Bastrop, TX

Hiring context

How this role compares at SpaceX

SpaceX has 2,405 live roles in MeritLog’s catalog across 11 job families, and 1,441 of them are in engineering. 198 of those listings publish a pay range, a disclosure rate of 8%.

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Counted across the job boards MeritLog tracks, at the time this page was served. Pay comparisons use only listings that publish a complete range in the same currency and period.

What the role asks for

What you'd do

Design, build, and activate fluids systems for the distribution of key gases (e.g. specialty and bulk gases), chemicals (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, solvents) and exhaust systems used in solar cell processes, including tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, gas panels, valves, scrubbers, and abatement systems
Cradle-to-grave project ownership including requirement definition, design, justification of key decisions, equipment procurement, build coordination, commissioning and project management throughout
Design modular systems capable of being manufactured at scale for future solar production facilities
Apply fluids/mechanical engineering skills such as P&ID development, equipment sizing, detailed fluid and thermal analysis, system-level CONOP development, structural analysis, materials and component selection.
Perform safety/hazard assessments (ex. FMEAs, HAZOPs) to ensure appropriate hazardous system design, including emergency shutdown CONOPs, redundancy, and general compliance with hazardous material safety standards
Design, build, and deploy data acquisition and control systems for fluid facilities control and monitoring
Collaborate with process engineers to integrate fluid systems with manufacturing equipment and optimize delivery rates, purity levels, and recovery/recycling of process fluids to support high-yield production
Support installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of fluid systems, working closely with facilities operations, EHS, automation, and procurement teams to resolve issues and implement improvements
Ensure regulatory compliance with OSHA, EPA, ASME, NFPA, and SEMI standards for chemical and gas handling in semiconductor-like environments
Track system performance metrics (e.g., flow rates, contamination levels, downtime) and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, such as lean manufacturing and sustainability efforts for fluid reuse

What they're asking for

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering disciplineEducation
5+ years of professional fluids systems design experienceExperience
Advanced degree in engineering or related fieldEducationPreferred
2+ years of experience in fluid systems design, particularly with gases or hazardous chemicals in manufacturing or semiconductor industriesExperiencePreferred
2+ years of experience in photovoltaic, semiconductor, or thin-film deposition manufacturingExperiencePreferred
Knowledge of safety protocols for handling pyrophoric materials (e.g., silane) and toxic gases/chemicals (e.g., phosphine, HF)SkillPreferred
Knowledge of ASME B31.3, SEMI S2/S8 standards and experience with cleanroom HVAC integration for fluid systemsSkillPreferred
Familiarity with cleanroom fluid systems, gas cabinets, scrubbers, and wastewater neutralization for solar cell fabricationSkillPreferred
Familiarity with air separation units (ASUs) for gaseous nitrogen production.SkillPreferred
Certification in process safety (e.g., CSP, Six Sigma Green Belt) or hazardous materials handlingCredentialPreferred
Proficiency in fluid dynamics software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, Pipe-Flo) and CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks) for system modeling and diagrammingSkillPreferred
Experience with process safety management, including risk assessment and regulatory complianceSkillPreferred
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, iterative environment and collaborate across multidisciplinary teamsSkillPreferred
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and communicate effectivelySkillPreferred
Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a demanding work environmentSkillPreferred
Creativity to imagine and design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from scratchSkillPreferred
Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods of time during machine buyoffs and startupSkillPreferred
Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassistedSkillPreferred
Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this positionSkillPreferred
Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestonesSkillPreferred

Parsed by MeritLog from the employer’s own posting. The full description follows below.

Job description

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. SR. FLUIDS SYSTEMS ENGINEER, SOLAR CELL FACTORY (STARLINK) The Solar Cell team is revolutionizing power generation for space applications through advanced solar cell manufacturing. We're scaling production of high-efficiency solar cells to support sustainable energy solutions for Starlink constellations, launch vehicles, and beyond. As a Sr. Solar Cell Factory Fluids Engineer, you will design, build, and optimize fluid systems for the delivery of critical gases and chemicals in solar cell fabrication. This role requires a detail-oriented engineer passionate about safe handling of hazardous materials in a high-volume manufacturing environment, ensuring reliable supply to processes like vacuum deposition and etching while minimizing risks and maximizing efficiency in our cutting-edge solar cell factory. RESPONSIBILITIES: • Design, build, and activate fluids systems for the distribution of key gases (e.g. specialty and bulk gases), chemicals (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, solvents) and exhaust systems used in solar cell processes, including tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, gas panels, valves, scrubbers, and abatement systems • Cradle-to-grave project ownership including requirement definition, design, justification of key decisions, equipment procurement, build coordination, commissioning and project management throughout • Design modular systems capable of being manufactured at scale for future solar production facilities • Apply fluids/mechanical engineering skills such as P&ID development, equipment sizing, detailed fluid and thermal analysis, system-level CONOP development, structural analysis, materials and component selection. • Perform safety/hazard assessments (ex. FMEAs, HAZOPs) to ensure appropriate hazardous system design, including emergency shutdown CONOPs, redundancy, and general compliance with hazardous material safety standards • Design, build, and deploy data acquisition and control systems for fluid facilities control and monitoring • Collaborate with process engineers to integrate fluid systems with manufacturing equipment and optimize delivery rates, purity levels, and recovery/recycling of process fluids to support high-yield production • Support installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of fluid systems, working closely with facilities operations, EHS, automation, and procurement teams to resolve issues and implement improvements • Ensure regulatory compliance with OSHA, EPA, ASME, NFPA, and SEMI standards for chemical and gas handling in semiconductor-like environments • Track system performance metrics (e.g., flow rates, contamination levels, downtime) and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, such as lean manufacturing and sustainability efforts for fluid reuse BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline • 5+ years of professional fluids systems design experience PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: • Advanced degree in engineering or related field • 2+ years of experience in fluid systems design, particularly with gases or hazardous chemicals in manufacturing or semiconductor industries • 2+ years of experience in photovoltaic, semiconductor, or thin-film deposition manufacturing • Knowledge of safety protocols for handling pyrophoric materials (e.g., silane) and toxic gases/chemicals (e.g., phosphine, HF) • Knowledge of ASME B31.3, SEMI S2/S8 standards and experience with cleanroom HVAC integration for fluid systems • Familiarity with cleanroom fluid systems, gas cabinets, scrubbers, and wastewater neutralization for solar cell fabrication • Familiarity with air separation units (ASUs) for gaseous nitrogen production. • Certification in process safety (e.g., CSP, Six Sigma Green Belt) or hazardous materials handling • Proficiency in fluid dynamics software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, Pipe-Flo) and CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks) for system modeling and diagramming • Experience with process safety management, including risk assessment and regulatory compliance • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, iterative environment and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams • Ability to work independently, take initiative, and communicate effectively • Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a demanding work environment • Creativity to imagine and design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from scratch ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:  • Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods of time during machine buyoffs and startup • Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted • Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestones 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

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