SpaceX welding jobs in 2026: TIG, orbital, friction stir, and what they pay

SpaceX has 25+ open welding and fabrication positions — from TIG welders building Raptor engines at $23/hour to senior welding engineers earning $175K. If you can weld stainless steel, Inconel, or aluminum to aerospace standards, SpaceX is hiring at every experience level across Hawthorne, Brownsville, Cape Canaveral, and Woodinville.

This isn't pipe fitting or structural construction welding. SpaceX builds rockets from thin-wall stainless steel and nickel superalloys, welding components that fly to orbit and (ideally) land themselves. The tolerances are tight, the materials are demanding, and the pace is relentless. Here's what the welding jobs actually look like.

Types of welding at SpaceX

TIG welding (GTAW) — The most common SpaceX welding process. TIG welders work on Raptor engine chambers and nozzles, Merlin engine components, Starship structural sections, and fluid transfer tubes. Materials include 300-series stainless steel, Inconel (nickel superalloy for high-temperature engine components), and aluminum alloys. Multiple positions are open in Hawthorne, with entry-level TIG welders at $23–$27/hour and Level 4/5 welders at $36–$43/hour.

Friction stir welding (FSW) — An advanced solid-state process used for Starship tank weldments. FSW technicians in Hawthorne earn $23–$27/hour. This is a specialized skill — FSW machines join large stainless steel panels without melting the material, producing stronger joints with fewer defects than fusion welding. SpaceX pioneered the use of FSW on stainless steel rocket structures.

Orbital tube welding — Automated TIG welding for fluid system tubing. SpaceX's orbital tube welders work on propellant feed lines, pressurant systems, and engine plumbing in Hawthorne at $23–$27/hour.

MIG welding and combo welding — Structural and ground support equipment (GSE) roles at Starbase and Cape Canaveral. These positions build launch infrastructure — the towers, flame deflectors, tank farms, and support structures that get rockets off the ground.

Current openings and pay

From our database, here's what SpaceX welding roles pay:

All full-time SpaceX employees receive stock options (6-year vesting, 2-year cliff). At an $800 billion valuation, even hourly welders' equity grants add meaningful value over the vesting period.

Where welders work

Hawthorne has the most welding openings and the widest variety of processes. Starbase (Brownsville) is where the structural and GSE welding happens — larger scale, more field-welding conditions, and the pace of building out a launch site that's still under active construction.

What SpaceX looks for

Certifications: AWS D17.1 (aerospace fusion welding) is the gold standard. AWS D1.1 (structural steel) matters for GSE roles. Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) is required for NDE/inspection positions. Many positions list certification as "preferred" rather than required — SpaceX will train and certify promising candidates.

Experience: Entry-level positions (Level 1-2) require 1-3 years of welding experience. Level 4/5 positions require 5+ years with specific aerospace or precision welding background. The jump from $23/hour to $43/hour is real and achievable within 3-5 years at SpaceX.

Physical demands: These are hands-on manufacturing roles. You'll work on your feet, in confined spaces, in hot environments, on shifts (day, swing, and night shifts are all common). Starbase adds South Texas heat; Hawthorne is air-conditioned but still factory-floor conditions.

ITAR: All SpaceX positions require US person status (citizen, green card, asylee, or refugee) due to ITAR export control regulations on rocket technology.

How to apply

Apply through spacex.com/careers and filter by "Production" or search for "welder" or "machinist." Browse all SpaceX positions on Zero G Talent. For the full hiring guide, see How to Get a Job at SpaceX. For location details, see SpaceX Brownsville or SpaceX Bastrop.