SpaceX
Manager, Automation & Controls Engineering (Power Generation & Utilities)
Starbase, TX · Contract
Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 11 hours ago
ProcurementAutoCADCadencePLCElectrical EngineeringPower ElectronicsControlsManual TestingLeadershipCommunicationMentoringPE LicenseSCADA
About the role
- You will scale both the team and the systems as Starship production and launch cadence increase.
Responsibilities
- Own the automation and controls engineering scope for all power generation projects and assets (gas turbine simple cycle, combined cycle, and steam turbine systems), including DCS/SCADA architecture, PLC systems, turbine control interfaces, instrumentation, and control networks - from control philosophy through commissioning and ongoing reliability.
- Own controls and electrical integration for utility-scale and low-voltage electrical power systems, including switchgear, protection and metering, plant electrical distribution, and power system controls in compliance with NFPA 70/70B/70E, NESC, and IEEE standards.
- Lead mechanical and electrical balance-of-plant (BOP) controls scope across power generation assets - fuel gas systems, HVAC, fire protection, compressed air, cooling water, and auxiliary systems.
- Build, mentor, and manage a team of automation and controls engineers and technicians
- Review and approve control philosophy documents, I/O lists, control narratives, single-line diagrams, electrical/pneumatic schematics, cause-and-effect diagrams, and control panel designs produced by the team and by EPC contractors/vendors.
- Drive standardization of control system architecture (DCS/PLC/SCADA), cybersecurity posture, documentation, and engineering practices across power generation and utility facilities to enable design reuse and faster deployment.
- Own field commissioning support for automation, controls, and electrical systems, including loop checks, functional testing, protection testing, start-up, and hand-off
- support root-cause investigations and reliability improvements across operating assets.
- Develop SOWs, negotiate, and manage contractor work as needed to support power generation and utility build-out.
- Build, mentor, and manage a team of automation and controls engineers and technicians; scale the team in line with power generation capacity growth and Starship production/launch rate targets.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related engineering field.
- 3+ years of experience directly managing or leading a team of engineers (and preferably technicians).
- Working knowledge of electrical power systems (utility-scale and low-voltage), switchgear, protection, metering, and their interface with automation and controls.
- Experience designing or reviewing industrial electrical control panels and electrical schematics.
- Direct experience with gas turbine or combined-cycle power plant controls (turbine control systems, HRSG controls, plant-wide DCS integration, and BOP controls).
- Experience with utility-scale electrical power systems controls, protection schemes, and SCADA integration.
- Experience with water treatment plant automation, wastewater systems, industrial gas/fuel gas systems, or process cooling systems supporting power generation.
- Experience designing and commissioning PLC, HMI, and SCADA applications in high-reliability industrial or power environments.
- Familiarity with major industrial platforms (e.g., Emerson, ABB, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, SEL) and Ignition SCADA.
- Experience with IEC 61131 programming, industrial networking (IT/OT), and major industrial protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, etc.
Skills
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with DCS and/or PLC/SCADA platforms used in power generation or heavy industrial applications.
Visa & Work Authorization
- citizen or national, (ii) U
This listing is sourced directly from SpaceX's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.