SpaceX Verified

Aerospace, Space Exploration, Telecommunications, Manufacturing

NDE Inspector Trainee (Starship) - Temporary

Starbase, TXTemporaryJunior / Entry-levelPosted 2 months ago

Is this role right for you?

Upload your resume and get a skill-by-skill breakdown — see exactly where you match, where you're close, and what to highlight. Not a mystery percentage.

Get a tailored resume highlighting what this role needs.

Required skills

NDE Inspector Trainee
Starship
Temporary
NDE Operations
practical tests
NDE methods
production
engineering teams
engineering drawings
NDE inspection techniques

Nice to have

professional welding experience
NDE training program
NDE school
weldments
Basic computer skills
Microsoft applications

Role summary

SpaceX is seeking an NDE Inspector Trainee for a temporary position in Brownsville, TX, within the NDE Operations team. This role focuses on rapid training and certification across various NDE methods to support Starship production. The ideal candidate is studious, autonomous, and eager to build a career in nondestructive evaluation. Responsibilities include on-the-job training, preparing for and passing certification exams, performing inspections, interpreting findings, and supporting technique development. The position requires flexibility with shifts and overtime, and a high school diploma or equivalency. Preferred qualifications include welding experience and certifications in specific NDE methods.

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.

NDE INSPECTOR TRAINEE (STARSHIP) - TEMPORARY

An NDE Inspector trainee position at SpaceX sits within the NDE Operations team. The purpose of this role is to train effectively and quickly to become qualified and certified across needed NDE applications. A successful individual in this role is studious, autonomous, and motivated to start a career within nondestructive evaluation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Studiously train with multiple NDE Inspectors to gain on-the-job training (OJT)

Leverage OJT and self-study to effectively prepare for and pass certification examinations and practical tests

Become certified in the necessary and assigned NDE methods

Perform NDE inspections with the applicable NDE methods

Interpret, evaluate, communicate, and report findings to production and engineering teams

Interpret and review engineering drawings as required

Support the development of NDE inspection techniques for complex geometries

Support research and development of future NDE technology for operational improvements

Assist in training and developing others within the team

POSITION DETAILS:

This is a temporary position with SpaceX for the duration stated, subject to change with minimal notice based on business needs. Temporary employees who successfully complete the assignment may be eligible for conversion to full-time roles.

LENGTH OF POSITION: 3 months

LOCATION: Brownsville, TX

SHIFT: Must be available for all shifts (day shift, 6 AM - 6 PM or night shift, 6 PM - 6 AM), overtime and weekends as the schedule varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility is required

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or equivalency certificate

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

2+ years of professional welding experience

Certificate of completion in two or more of the following NDE methods from an NDE training program or school: Liquid penetrant (PT) or visual inspection (VT) in line with ASNT-TC-1A, NAS-410, or DOD guidance

Nondestructive evaluation level I certification in line with ASNT TC-1A, NAS-410, or DOD guidance in one of the following methods: Eddy current (ET), radiography (RT), digital radiography (DR), dye penetrant (PT), visual inspection (VT), computed radiography (CR), phase array (PAUT), ultrasonic (UT), ultrasonic shear wave (UTSW), or magnetic particle (MT)

Operational experience using one of the listed NDE methods for the inspection of weldments

Basic computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel

Knowledge of AMS, AWS/ASME, ASTM

Experience with problem solving tools and techniques: practical problem solving (PPS), Eight Disciplines (8D)

Basic understanding of lean principles: 5S, Kaizen, continuous improvement initiatives

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Stand: Up to 10 hours per day

Sit: Up to 3 hours per day

Push/Pull: Up to 75lbs. (unassisted) 2 hours or longer per day

Overhead reach: Up to 1 hour per day

Walk: Up to 3 hours per day

Lift/Carry: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) 2 hours or longer per day

Climb (ladder/stairs): up to 6 hours per day

Kneel/Crouch: up to 3 hours per day

Upper body twist: Up to 6 hours per day

Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 3 hours per day

Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

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.

Sample SpaceX interview questions

1
Build a distributed platform for storing and serving digital assets.
system designmedium
2
Design a system for real-time processing of IoT device data.
system designmedium
3
Design a distributed message queue like Kafka.
system designmedium
4
Develop a web app that shortens URLs like TinyURL.
system designmedium
5
Propose a high-level design for a tracing system that can handle millions of spans per second across thousands of services.
system designmedium

Get started to unlock a personalized interview prep pack for this role.

Ready to apply?

You'll be redirected to SpaceX's application page.