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Critical Lift & Transport Technician (Launch)

SpaceX· Falcon Operations West
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Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA$33k - $41.8k Full-timePosted 5d ago

About the role

SpaceX is hiring a Critical Lift & Transport Technician (Launch) to manage movement, maintenance, and support of flight hardware and ground support equipment at Vandenberg Space Force Base and Long Beach, ensuring safe and efficient transport and handling of launch components.

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for Falcon 9 stages, Payload, Dragon capsule and associated ground support equipment (GSE) movement across Vandenberg Space Force Base and Long Beach
  • Perform preventative maintenance on mobile cranes, cranes, and SPMTs
  • Work with a team of technicians and engineers to ensure transport systems and equipment are maintained with the highest level of quality to support current and future manifests
  • Utilize heavy machinery (forklift, telescopic, overhead crane) to lift and move flight hardware and associated GSE after delivery and prior to shipping
  • Evaluate in-transit risks and provide on-site solutions to alleviate risk. Including: routes, repairs, escorts, and drivers – includes physical escorts across launch sites
  • Pack up and organize cross-country shipping fixtures and associated hardware for return to the respective shipping site
  • Perform preventative maintenance and repair of shipping fixtures and GSE
  • Organize, procure, and maintain tools needed to offload and pack up flight hardware
  • Develop, document, and coordinate work instructions with the management team to ensure efficient packaging of flight hardware and equipment is maintained
  • Perform route surveys prior to scheduled flight hardware moves
  • Make recommendations to management to improve the health, timing, and safety of all movements
  • Use various mechanical tools without instruction
  • Troubleshoot operational issues found on vehicle pressure systems
  • Maintain and install fluid system components from a schematic or drawing including ball and check valves, pressure regulator and gauges, etc.
  • Set up, inspect, operate and perform maintenance on hydraulic self-propelled modular transporters, hydraulic booms and crawler cranes
  • Perform tear down and assembly of different configurations associated with Cranes and SPMTs
  • Core traits that empower this success are strong written and oral communication skills, a meticulous attention to detail, an emphasis on safety, cleanliness, adherence to corporate policies and standards, and the ability to work with a team

Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalency certificate
  • 1+ years of professional experience in Critical Lift or Heavy Haul

Skills

Required:High school diploma or equivalentEquipment operation (forklift, telescopic, overhead crane)Preventative maintenance
Nice to have:Route surveys and risk assessmentRigging and crane operation

Benefits

  • Long-term incentives and potential discretionary bonuses
  • Company stock or long-term cash awards
  • Employee stock purchase plan
  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • short and long-term disability insurance
  • life insurance
  • paid parental leave
  • 3 weeks of paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays per year
  • paid sick leave policy per company standards
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About SpaceX

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