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Trades · Machinist

Machinist jobs in the space industry

CNC and manual machinists making engine parts, valves and flight hardware to tight tolerances. 113 open today.

113
Open machinists roles
$41.50/hr
Median posted pay (67 ranges)
$32.50–$47.36
Middle half, per hour
SpaceX
Most openings (32)

Where the machinists jobs are

LA South Bay · 42Huntsville · 17Seattle · 15Bastrop · 7Space Coast · 6Colorado · 5West Texas · 4McGregor · 2Houston · 2Vandenberg · 1

Open machinists roles

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Rocket Lab

CNC Operator

Warkworth, NZ +1Hourly
Trades & techniciansUS person2415 NZ-Machine Shop
3 days ago
Relativity Space

Senior Machinist

Cape Canaveral, FLHourly
Trades & techniciansLaunch Build and Design
$41.73–$62.60/hr13 days ago
Live hereSpace CoastFurnished stays: listing nowSpace Coast guide →
Blue Origin

Machinist

Greater Seattle AreaHourly
Trades & techniciansUS person
$39.34–$55.07/hr14 days ago
Live hereSeattleSeattle guide →
Ursa Major

Machinist

Berthoud, COHourly
Trades & techniciansClearanceUS personMachining
$24–$30/hr19 days ago
Live hereColoradoColorado guide →
Dawn Aerospace

CNC Machinist - Christchurch

Christchurch, Canterbury, New ZealandHourly
Trades & techniciansIn-Space Propulsion Manufacturing
21 days ago

Who's hiring machinists

SpaceX · 32Blue Origin · 27Relativity Space · 13Rocket Lab · 8Impulse Space · 5AST SpaceMobile · 4

How to qualify as a machinist

CNC experience, blueprint and GD&T reading, and precision measuring. Many people start with a CNC or machining certificate.

  1. Take a machining or CNC program. A certificate covers manual mills and lathes, CNC setup and operation, and shop math.
  2. Learn GD&T and inspection. Flight hardware is held to tight tolerances, so reading GD&T and using micrometers and CMMs matters.
  3. Get multi-axis time. Postings often ask for 3- or 5-axis experience. A first job at any precision shop builds it.
  4. Learn programming. Editing and proving programs in CAM or at the control moves you from operator to machinist.

Credentials employers mention

  • NIMS credentials. National Institute for Metalworking Skills credentials for machining skills.
  • College CNC / machining certificate. Typically 1 year or less at a community or technical college.

Typical routes only. Requirements differ by employer and state, so read the posting and your state licensing board.

See training near every hub and major city →

Training near Huntsville for machinists

Schools near Huntsville with programs that match these jobs. Checked on each school's own site Oct 18, 2026. Not sponsored: no school pays to be listed. Confirm cost, schedule and admission with the school.

Training near Seattle for machinists

Schools near Seattle with programs that match these jobs. Checked on each school's own site Oct 18, 2026. Not sponsored: no school pays to be listed. Confirm cost, schedule and admission with the school.

Training near Bastrop for machinists

Schools near Bastrop with programs that match these jobs. Checked on each school's own site Oct 18, 2026. Not sponsored: no school pays to be listed. Confirm cost, schedule and admission with the school.

Machinist jobs: quick answers

How much do machinists make in the space industry?

Across 67 space-industry machinists postings that list pay, the middle half of posted ranges runs $32.50–$47.36 an hour, with a median of $41.50/hr (as of October 19, 2026). Posted ranges go from $23.00 to $70.80 an hour depending on level, shift and location. Many employers don't publish pay, so treat this as a guide.

Which space companies are hiring machinists?

As of October 19, 2026, the most openings are at SpaceX (32), Blue Origin (27), Relativity Space (13), Rocket Lab (8), Impulse Space (5), AST SpaceMobile (4).

Where are space-industry machinists jobs located?

Most openings are around Los Angeles South Bay, CA (42), Huntsville, AL (17), Seattle area, WA (15), Bastrop & Austin, TX (7), Space Coast, FL (6). Each hub page lists where crews live and furnished places to stay.

Do you need a degree to work as a machinist at a space company?

Generally no. Expect requests for multi-axis CNC experience, GD&T and blueprint reading, precision measuring tools, and often the ability to set up and edit programs. 63 of today's postings explicitly mention a high-school diploma, GED, trade school or equivalent experience.

Figures come from live postings on SpaceJobs as of October 19, 2026. Pay is converted to hourly at 2,080 hours a year where employers post salaries.

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