A graduate of Southwestern Michigan College is heading off to Texas to work for SpaceX.

Dowagiac native Scout Hunsberger, a 2024 SMC welding technology graduate, beat out seven male applicants to become a TIG welder on SpaceX’s Starship heat shield, the rocket system designed for missions to the Moon and Mars.

A Union High School graduate, the 21-year-old Hunsberger is now making preparations to move to Brownsville, Texas to start on January 26. She says she was just looking for a welding job when she applied, never imagining it would lead to working on rockets bound for Mars.

SMC says getting a job at SpaceX is known as extremely difficult, marked by intense competition, a rigorous multi-stage interview process with many sessions. Elon Musk owns the largest individual stake in SpaceX, estimated at 42% to 44%.

Hunsberger says she’s shocked to have received the job, adding SpaceX flew her out for the interview process and that its competitive nature just made her more determined.