Back to Jobs

Job Description

Overview

SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. As a Pipe Welder for Stage 0 Ground Fabrication at Starbase, TX, you will execute precision fits and high-integrity welds on complex GSE pipe systems that support vehicle testing and historic Starship flights.

Responsibilities

  • Fit and weld complex stainless steel piping systems using various welding processes for launch and test sites.
  • Analyze engineering drawings and specifications to plan welding operations under the supervision of a lead welder.
  • Visually inspect per ASME B31.3 with proper training.
  • Obtain and maintain internal licenses, operator permits, or certifications as required.
  • Continuously improve operations, decrease turnaround times, and streamline work processes.
  • Work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities based on program needs.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
  • 2+ years of experience using GTAW or GMAW on stainless steel pipe.
  • 5+ years of experience using GTAW, GMAW, or FCAW-G on stainless steel piping systems preferred.
  • 2+ years experience on duplex stainless steel preferred.
  • 3+ years of pipe fitting experience preferred.
  • 3+ years of blueprint/isometric drawing reading experience preferred.
  • Knowledge of welding techniques, metallurgy, AWS/ASME codes, and engineering requirements.
  • Knowledge of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in relation to welding.
  • Knowledge of occupational hazards and effective safety precautions of the trade.
  • Experience with precision measuring instruments such as theodolite, total station, or laser levels.
  • Experience in overhead cranes, forklifts, and rigging.
  • Ability to rapidly change roles and responsibilities in a high-paced environment.

Additional Information

  • Typical hours are 6:00 pm – 6:00 am, excluding overtime.
  • Must be available for overtime and weekends as the schedule varies.
  • Valid driver’s license required.
  • Exposure to extreme outdoor environments and work requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise.
  • Physical requirements include standing, sitting, pushing/pulling, lifting, climbing, kneeling, and working at heights.
Apply for This Position

How this job compares

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, pipe welder jobs across Texas currently run a median of $35/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $32–$37/hr across 28 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market

This posting doesn't specify a city. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,256 other active welding openings from 597 employers. 322 of them were added in the last week. Browse welding jobs across Texas.

SpaceX currently has 10 other openings live in Texas, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Austin Industries (29), Welding Shop in Austin, TX (27), and Zachry Group (23). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Midlothian at $38/hr, Irving at $38/hr, and Pasadena at $37/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG, TIG, and Flux-Core work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

See all pipe welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IX — the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Pipe Welder, Stage 0 Ground Fabriciation (Starship) - Night Shift figures were last recalculated when this page was built.