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.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY ENGINEER
The Environmental Health and Safety team is seeking a highly driven electrical safety engineer to own electrical safety controls across SpaceX's production, test, and launch infrastructure at Starbase, Texas. This role is critical in ensuring medium- and low-voltage power systems, manufacturing equipment, ground support systems, and construction power meet rigorous personnel-protection and control-reliability requirements while the site scales. The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of industrial electrical system architecture, NFPA 70E electrical safety work practices, and the hazards associated with switchgear, motor control centers, transformers, generators, temporary power, and equipment in hazardous locations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own the Starbase site electrical safety program in accordance with NFPA 70E, including shock protection, arc-flash protection, energized electrical work permits, approach boundaries, and electrically safe work conditions
- Establish and maintain lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, switching orders, and live-dead-live verification practices for switchgear, motor control centers, transformers, automatic transfer switches (ATS), generators, distribution equipment, and production and ground-support loads
- Lead arc-flash hazard analysis and incident energy studies (IEEE 1584), maintain equipment labeling, and define PPE categories, working distances, and restricted/limited approach boundaries for AC and DC systems, including outdoor and coastal installations
- Qualify, train, and audit electrical workers as NFPA 70E Qualified Persons; develop and deliver electrical safety training for operators, technicians, contractors, and construction partners supporting rapid Starbase buildout
- Review and approve energized work, electrical switching, and commissioning procedures from a safety perspective; stop work when conditions do not meet electrically safe work practice requirements
- Ensure proper grounding, bonding, equipotential bonding, lightning protection, and power quality monitoring so equipment damage and personnel injury are prevented, including corrosion and salt-fog degradation typical of the Gulf coast
- Validate generator, ATS, and backup-power transfer procedures for personnel safety during planned and unplanned transfers, including black-start, paralleling, and restoration during utility outages, storms, and site operations
- Partner with design, construction, and commissioning teams to integrate electrical safety into new builds and expansions: one-line diagrams, protective device coordination, short-circuit studies, temporary power, and construction LOTO across production, test, and launch areas
- Conduct structured risk assessments of electrical systems, including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and electrical hazard assessments for medium- and low-voltage distribution, classified hazardous locations, and high-energy equipment
- Investigate electrical incidents, near misses, shock events, and arc-flash events; drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions
- Monitor and mitigate electrical hazards associated with hot work near energized equipment, cooling or ventilation failures, and Starbase environmental conditions — extreme heat, humidity, salt air, wind, and tropical weather — that degrade insulation, PPE, enclosures, and equipment ratings
- Establish safe operating limits and emergency response procedures for electrical events, including arc flash, shock, power loss, and fire involving electrical equipment, coordinated with site emergency response and Starbase operational constraints
- Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, including NFPA 70 (NEC) as adopted in Texas, NFPA 70E, NFPA 70B, OSHA 1910 Subpart S, IEEE, IEC, hazardous-location requirements, and Starbase building and fire requirements
- Coordinate with contractors, vendors, and local utility providers to enforce electrical safety requirements during installation, maintenance, interconnection, and repairs on site power infrastructure
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, electrical engineering technology, or related engineering field
- 3+ years of professional experience in electrical power systems, electrical safety, or industrial electrical operations
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Direct ownership or administration of an NFPA 70E electrical safety program in an industrial, utility, manufacturing, or other high-hazard environment
- Hands-on experience in manufacturing plants, heavy industrial facilities, utilities, or large construction sites, including outdoor or harsh-environment installations
- Experience with arc-flash studies, short-circuit analysis, and protective device coordination using ETAP, SKM PowerTools, EasyPower, or equivalent
- Working knowledge of industrial electrical architecture, including utility feeds, substations, switchgear, transformers, motor control centers, generators, paralleling equipment, ATS, and temporary construction power
- Familiarity with delta/wye transformers, protective relaying, facility grounding, lightning protection, and power quality
- Experience with NEC hazardous (classified) locations and electrical work near flammable or energetic operations
- Experience creating and implementing electrical LOTO, switching procedures, and energized electrical work permit processes on active construction or operating sites
- Knowledge of OSHA 1910.147, OSHA 1910.269/1910.333, NFPA 70, NFPA 70B, IEEE 1584, and NESC as applicable
- NFPA 70E related certifications (e.g., CESCP, CESW, or equivalent electrical safety credentials)
- PE (Professional Engineer) license; Texas licensure or ability to obtain it is a plus
- CSP (Certified Safety Professional) or equivalent EHS credential
- Proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical, Revit, or similar electrical design tools
- Proficiency with PFMEA, root cause analysis, statistical process control, and structured problem-solving methodologies
- Experience working with utility providers, electrical contractors, and commissioning agents on interconnection, cutovers, and live-facility work
- Experience with coastal or industrial environmental controls: corrosion, enclosure ratings, heat, humidity, and severe-weather electrical preparedness
- Ability to quickly assess an electrical issue in the field and guide technicians through safe troubleshooting and repair
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the mission of enabling multi-planetary life
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to Brownsville, TX
- Position occasionally requires the ability to travel and support other SpaceX sites
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support construction, commissioning, test, and launch operations
- Must be able to work outdoors and in industrial environments in extreme South Texas heat, humidity, and coastal conditions, and to comply with Starbase site access and safety requirements
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 [email protected].
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