Water Treatment Specialist, UPW & Wastewater (Starlink)

Bastrop, TXfull time

On Site

mid

H1B: no

SpaceX Water Treatment Specialist at SpaceX operates and maintains ultrapure water and wastewater treatment systems for Starlink manufacturing. Responsible for process monitoring, maintenance, and ensuring reliable water quality in a high-volume production environment.

Responsibilities

Operate and monitor UPW (ultrapure water) systems, including reverse osmosis (RO), electrodeionization (EDI), UV disinfection, and filtration
Manage wastewater treatment processes, including pH neutralization, evaporators (multiple-effect vacuum and MVR units), clarification/precipitation and solids dewatering, AOP (advanced oxidation processes), crystallizers, and a variety of other processes (TMF, UF, etc.)
Perform routine preventative maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting on pumps, valves, sensors, membranes, and control systems
Conduct daily water quality sampling, analysis (e.g., TOC, silica, metals, conductivity), and data logging using tools like Hach analyzers or similar
Respond to alarms, investigate excursions, and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime (target: >99.9% system availability)
Collaborate with manufacturing, EHS, and engineering teams to optimize water usage, reduce waste, and implement sustainability initiatives
Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and SpaceX safety protocols, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) and chemical handling
Execute startup and shutdown procedures for production equipment
Identify equipment and process deviations and perform corrective actions
Work with engineers and technicians to create operating procedures
Use knowledge of systems and existing documentation like schematics and parts lists to create and maintain a mature and efficient hardware inventory system – including procurement of critical spares
Identify continuous improvement opportunities for uptime and quality

Qualification

Strong knowledge of water chemistry

Required

High school degree or equivalency certificate
2+ years of experience working in a hands-on technical position OR an associate’s degree in a STEM field

Preferred

Proficiently use a computer and MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
3+ years of hands on experience in UPW production and/or industrial wastewater treatment (semiconductor, pharma, or electronics manufacturing ideal)
Experience in a chemical manufacturing or oil/gas industry
Strong knowledge of water chemistry, ion exchange, RO/EDI systems, and wastewater technologies
Proficiency with water quality instrumentation and basic PLC troubleshooting
Experience working in a manufacturing environment or wet lab
Experience with process parameters and engineering units for temperature, pressure, flow, and power
Ability to read and understand P&ID and schematic wiring diagrams