SpaceX Bastrop TX facility in 2026: Starlink manufacturing near Austin
SpaceX's Bastrop, Texas facility is a large-scale satellite manufacturing plant located approximately 30 miles southeast of Austin. Opened in 2023 and expanded through 2024-2025, the Bastrop site is dedicated primarily to Starlink satellite production — manufacturing the next-generation V3 satellites that form the backbone of SpaceX's global internet constellation. With over 850,000 square feet of production space and a growing workforce, Bastrop represents SpaceX's investment in scaling satellite manufacturing to meet the demand of a constellation that now serves over 9 million subscribers worldwide.
What the Bastrop facility does
The Bastrop facility focuses on high-volume satellite manufacturing. While SpaceX's original Starlink production line in Redmond, Washington continues to operate, Bastrop provides additional capacity for the larger, more capable V3 satellites.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Primary product | Starlink V3 satellites |
| Facility size | 850,000+ sq ft |
| Opened | 2023, expanded 2024-2025 |
| Location | Bastrop, TX (30 min SE of Austin) |
| Production model | High-rate, vertically integrated |
| Supporting work | Some laser inter-satellite link (ISL) assembly, testing |
Starlink V3 satellites
The V3 generation is significantly larger and more capable than previous Starlink versions:
| Specification | V2 Mini | V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | ~800 kg | ~1,250 kg |
| Bandwidth | ~100 Gbps | ~160+ Gbps |
| Laser links | Yes | Enhanced (higher data rate) |
| Launch vehicle | Falcon 9 | Starship (primary), Falcon 9 |
| Production target | High rate | Very high rate |
V3 satellites are designed to be launched primarily on Starship, which can carry significantly more satellites per launch than Falcon 9. The Bastrop facility's production rate is being scaled to match the anticipated Starship launch cadence.
SpaceX chose Bastrop for several reasons: lower real estate and operating costs compared to the Seattle area, proximity to Starbase in Boca Chica (roughly 6 hours by truck for satellite transport), a favorable Texas business environment with no state income tax, and access to Austin's growing engineering talent pool. The facility complements Redmond rather than replacing it — Redmond handles engineering development and some production, while Bastrop focuses on high-rate manufacturing.
Jobs at the Bastrop facility
Role categories
The Bastrop facility hires across manufacturing, engineering, and operations functions:
| Category | Roles | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Production engineering | Manufacturing engineer, process engineer, tooling engineer | $85K–$145K |
| Test engineering | Satellite test engineer, RF test, environmental test | $90K–$150K |
| Manufacturing operations | Production supervisor, line lead, technician | $55K–$110K |
| Quality | Quality engineer, inspector, metrology | $75K–$130K |
| Software | Manufacturing software, MES, automation | $110K–$180K |
| Supply chain | Procurement, logistics, supplier quality | $75K–$130K |
| Facilities/maintenance | Equipment maintenance, facility operations | $60K–$100K |
| RF/antenna engineering | Phased array design, antenna testing | $100K–$165K |
| Mechanical engineering | Satellite structures, mechanisms, thermal | $95K–$160K |
| Electrical engineering | PCB design, power systems, avionics | $95K–$160K |
Most in-demand roles
The highest-volume hiring at Bastrop in 2026 centers on:
Manufacturing engineers. SpaceX needs engineers who can optimize production processes for high-rate satellite assembly. Experience with lean manufacturing, automation, and statistical process control is valued.
Test engineers. Every satellite undergoes extensive testing before delivery. RF performance testing, thermal vacuum testing, and functional testing require engineers who can design test procedures and troubleshoot failures.
Production technicians and supervisors. The production floor requires skilled technicians for satellite assembly, soldering, harness fabrication, and integration. Supervisors manage shifts and production flow.
Software engineers (manufacturing systems). Bastrop uses custom software for production tracking, quality management, and factory automation. Full-stack engineers and embedded systems engineers support these systems.
If you want to design next-generation satellite architectures, Redmond is the place. Bastrop is focused on production — taking proven designs and building them at scale with high quality and efficiency. The engineering challenges at Bastrop are about rate, yield, process optimization, and test automation rather than conceptual design. This distinction matters for career planning: manufacturing engineers build deep expertise in production systems, while Redmond engineers focus on satellite design and constellation architecture.
Compensation at Bastrop
SpaceX Bastrop salaries are competitive with Austin-area tech companies, with the added benefit of pre-IPO equity.
| Role | Base Salary | Equity (Annual Vest) | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineer | $95K–$135K | $20K–$50K | $115K–$185K |
| Test Engineer | $100K–$145K | $25K–$55K | $125K–$200K |
| Software Engineer | $115K–$175K | $40K–$100K | $155K–$275K |
| Production Supervisor | $80K–$110K | $15K–$35K | $95K–$145K |
| Senior Mechanical Engineer | $140K–$170K | $50K–$100K | $190K–$270K |
| Quality Engineer | $85K–$125K | $20K–$45K | $105K–$170K |
| Production Technician | $22–$35/hr | Limited equity | $46K–$73K |
Equity values are estimated based on reported SpaceX equity grant ranges and current private market valuations. Actual values depend on grant size, vesting schedule, and company valuation at the time of any liquidity event.
Bastrop vs. Austin tech
| Company | Mid SWE Total Comp | Manufacturing Eng TC | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceX Bastrop | $155K–$275K | $115K–$185K | 0% (TX) |
| Tesla Austin | $140K–$250K | $100K–$170K | 0% (TX) |
| Apple Austin | $200K–$350K | N/A | 0% (TX) |
| Samsung Austin | $130K–$220K | $90K–$150K | 0% (TX) |
| NXP Austin | $120K–$200K | $85K–$140K | 0% (TX) |
SpaceX total compensation is competitive with Austin-area tech and semiconductor companies, especially when factoring in equity upside. The trade-off is longer hours — SpaceX Bastrop operates on the same high-intensity culture as other SpaceX sites.
The work culture
SpaceX Bastrop operates with the same intensity and ownership-driven culture as all SpaceX facilities.
| Factor | Reality |
|---|---|
| Hours | 50-55+ hours/week standard for engineers; production shifts vary |
| Schedule | Engineers typically work 5-6 days/week; production runs on shifts |
| Pace | Fast iteration, aggressive production targets |
| Autonomy | High — engineers own their processes end-to-end |
| Culture | Flat hierarchy, direct communication, results-oriented |
| Work-life balance | Limited compared to traditional manufacturing |
The Bastrop facility benefits from being a manufacturing site rather than a launch site — it does not have the unpredictable schedule disruptions that launch campaigns create at Cape Canaveral or Starbase. Production schedules are more predictable, though overtime during production ramps is expected.
Living in Bastrop and the Austin area
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Bastrop town | Population ~10,000; small-town feel, growing, historic downtown |
| Distance to Austin | 30 miles (35-45 min drive, depending on traffic) |
| Housing in Bastrop | $280K–$420K median (new construction available) |
| Housing in Austin metro | $450K–$600K median |
| State income tax | 0% |
| Outdoor recreation | Colorado River, Bastrop State Park, Lost Pines forest |
| Food and culture | Growing in Bastrop; extensive options in Austin |
| Traffic | Manageable from Bastrop; Highway 71/130 connection to Austin |
Where Bastrop employees live
| Area | Distance to Facility | Home Prices | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop | 5-15 min | $280K–$420K | Shortest commute |
| Elgin | 20-25 min | $300K–$430K | North of Bastrop |
| Cedar Creek/Del Valle | 15-25 min | $300K–$450K | Between Austin and Bastrop |
| Southeast Austin | 25-40 min | $350K–$500K | Urban amenities + reasonable commute |
| Central Austin | 35-50 min | $450K–$700K+ | Full urban lifestyle, longer commute |
Bastrop itself is a small but growing town with a charming historic downtown, craft breweries, and restaurants. For engineers who want more urban amenities, southeastern Austin offers a compromise between commute time and city access.
SpaceX's arrival has accelerated Bastrop's growth, joining existing investments from other companies. The area is one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas. Housing remains significantly more affordable than central Austin, but prices are rising. Engineers relocating to Bastrop in 2026 are getting in during a growth phase — property values are likely to continue increasing as the area develops.
How to apply
Browse SpaceX positions. Search SpaceX jobs on Zero G Talent and filter for Bastrop or Texas.
Target manufacturing and production roles. Bastrop's highest hiring volume is in manufacturing engineering, test engineering, and production operations. These roles are more accessible than flight software positions.
Highlight production experience. If you have experience in high-rate manufacturing (automotive, semiconductor, electronics, or aerospace), emphasize throughput metrics, yield improvements, and process optimizations on your resume.
Get a referral. SpaceX receives enormous application volume. An employee referral significantly increases your chances of getting an interview.
Prepare for the interview. SpaceX interviews include technical depth relevant to your role plus behavioral questions about ownership and problem-solving. Read about software engineering at SpaceX for general interview preparation context.
Bastrop vs. other SpaceX locations
| Location | Focus | Headcount | Lifestyle | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop, TX | Starlink manufacturing | 1,000+ | Small town near Austin | Moderate |
| Hawthorne, CA | HQ, Falcon/Dragon engineering | ~6,000 | LA metro | High |
| Starbase, TX | Starship development, launch | ~3,000 | Remote Boca Chica | Low |
| Redmond, WA | Starlink engineering | ~3,000 | Seattle metro | High |
| Cape Canaveral, FL | Launch operations | ~2,000 | Space Coast | Moderate |
Bastrop offers the best cost-of-living among SpaceX locations while providing proximity to a major metro (Austin) and working on the highest-volume production program in the company. For engineers who want SpaceX experience, equity, and career development without the extreme isolation of Starbase or the high costs of Hawthorne and Redmond, Bastrop is an increasingly attractive option.
Browse all SpaceX openings on Zero G Talent, or explore satellite internet jobs across the industry.
