Sr. Maintenance Engineer, Chemical (Starlink PCB)

As a Sr. Maintenance Engineer, Chemical at SpaceX, you'll be responsible for overseeing the repairs and modifications of equipment in our PCB production line. This includes troubleshooting complex equipment failures and leading maintenance technicians to resolve these issues. You'll also engage in root cause analysis, develop improvement projects to maximize equipment availability, and collaborate with engineering teams to enhance reliability and efficiency.

The Sr. Maintenance Engineer, Chemical role at SpaceX requires a Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, along with at least 5 years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment. Preferred qualifications include experience in troubleshooting PCB chemical processing equipment and leading diverse teams through complex problem-solving scenarios.

The Sr. Maintenance Engineer, Chemical plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the equipment used in producing Starlink's components. By maximizing production equipment availability and minimizing downtime, you'll contribute directly to Starlink's mission of providing fast, reliable internet access globally, thereby impacting countless communities.

In this role, you’ll lead various projects aimed at improving production line efficiency. This includes developing and executing plans for process improvements, facilitating machine upgrades, and collaborating with contractors to ensure high quality and timely repairs. Each project’s outcome directly influences the production capacity of Starlink systems.

Key skills for a Sr. Maintenance Engineer, Chemical at SpaceX include critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in interpreting mechanical drawings and electrical schematics. Strong communication skills are essential for effectively leading teams and liaising with other engineering departments. In addition, hands-on experience and familiarity with MRP, ERP, and CMMS systems are highly valued.

In responding to this question, highlight specific challenges you've faced while troubleshooting PCB chemical processing systems. Share successful techniques you've used for problem resolution, emphasizing hands-on experiences and outcomes to show your technical capability.

When answering this question, discuss the steps you take for root cause analysis, including data collection and analysis techniques. Provide examples of past situations where your RCA led to significant improvements in production or reduction in failures.

Share concrete strategies you've implemented to enhance equipment reliability, such as the integration of predictive maintenance tools or routine audits. Highlight collaborations with other departments to build reliability into system designs as part of your response.

When addressing this question, provide a detailed example of a project where you took the lead. Include your role, objectives, challenges faced, and the results achieved, emphasizing your leadership skills and project management techniques.

Describe your prioritization methodology, such as assessing equipment criticality, evaluating impact on production, and considering technician workload. Share practical examples where your prioritization led to minimized downtime or enhanced efficiency.

Focus on how you maintain clear and open communication channels within your team and with other departments. You might discuss how this approach helps in preventing misunderstandings and ensures that projects are executed smoothly.

Discuss key performance indicators you find valuable, such as mean time to repair (MTTR), equipment downtime, and preventive maintenance compliance metrics. Explain how these metrics influence decision-making and continuous improvement.

Provide a specific instance where you successfully navigated a conflict within your team. Emphasize your conflict resolution strategies, such as active listening and mediation, and the positive outcome.

Explain your past experiences with CMMS systems, including how you've used them for maintenance tracking, scheduling, and reporting. Detail any improvements you've seen in team productivity or maintenance procedures due to CMMS implementation.

Share your approach to professional development, such as attending workshops, reading industry publications, or engaging in professional networks. Highlight specific technologies that interest you and how they can be applied to your role at SpaceX.