SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
OPERATIONS ENGINEER, LAUNCH
At SpaceX, we are pushing the boundaries of rocket re-usability to launch ever-increasing amounts of customer and Starlink satellites. We are currently seeking an all-star to join the Launch Operations team at Cape Canaveral. As an Operations Engineer, you will have the opportunity to utilize your multi-disciplinary knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop methods that maximize launch efficiency without sacrificing safety or reliability.
The Operations Engineer will be responsible for making data-based recommendations and owning projects to drive down pad refurb hours, quality issues, and bottlenecks. They will work with multi-disciplinary teams at SpaceX to understand complex problems and implement best practices and steer strategic decisions. They will embrace and implement the SpaceX algorithm of: make the requirements less dumb, delete the part or process step, optimize, accelerate, and automate.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create software & automation solutions to fly each mission more simply than the last
- Manage improvement projects for pad and launch teams for project reviews and tracking including a roadmap towards zero refurb pad
- Identify operational and engineering challenges within the organization; determine root cause, and develop appropriate process improvements and corrective actions
- Provide tactical scheduling and strategic planning expertise to optimize the launch schedule
- Develop and track key performance metrics, and identify decision points and actions to optimize production and engineering to meet launch targets
- Analyze and determine insights from trends and operating metrics to inform critical department strategy and targets
- Identify and support improvement opportunities for product yield, quality, safety, cost, and team efficiency
- Capture best practices from other SpaceX teams to apply organizational knowledge, training materials, and lessons-learned to the pad and launch organizations
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, mathematics, or physics
- 2+ years of professional experience as an operations, process, manufacturing, or industrial engineer in a manufacturing or production environment
- 1+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, and Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Programming experience in Python, C#.NET, Go, Scala, Java, or similar object-oriented language
- 1+ years of rigorous experience building single page web applications
- Experience with version control, continuous integration, and continuous delivery concepts
- Expertise in designing software systems
- Experience applying Lean and quality tools such as Process Mapping, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action, and various problem-solving approaches
- Project Management skills – ability to define, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects
- Experience with inventory, production, and capacity planning (Including MRP/ERP/database systems)
- Demonstrated capability to jump into ill-defined problems and drive positive outcomes
- Excellent written and communication skills
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed
- Must be willing to travel - up to 15% travel may be required to other SpaceX sites
- Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and/or Vandenberg
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Operations Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Operations Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.
Top Skills
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary.
SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
