IT Systems Administrator, Launch

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Medical, vision, dental

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a skilled IT Systems Administrator to support networking, compute, and application needs for our launch environment. This role enables safe launch cadence and requires attention to detail in mission-critical systems.

Responsibilities include deploying new infrastructure, upgrading systems, monitoring services, and maintaining documentation. Strong scripting, automation, and AD familiarity are highly valued, with ITAR/NIST/Cybersecurity knowledge essential.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of IT systems administration experience.
• Hands-on Linux or Windows server administration.
• Experience with enterprise network administration and deployment.

Responsibilities

• Augment and deploy IT infrastructure supporting mission-critical networks.
• Perform periodic upgrades and patches, including weekends/evenings.
• Monitor IT services and respond to incidents to maintain performance.
• Collaborate with teams to identify and resolve deployment issues.
• Document IT systems, from design drawings to procedures.
• Leverage automation tools and contribute to IT systems engineering.
• Ensure systems meet ITAR, ISO, and NIST cybersecurity standards.

Skills

Linux/Windows server

Enterprise network admin

Scripting (Bash/Powershell/Python)

Automation tools (Terraform/Ansible)

Active Directory/multi-platform auth

Virtualization platforms

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

3+ years IT systems administration

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Puppet

SCCM

Job description

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.

IT SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR, LAUNCH

SpaceX is looking for a highly skilled and knowledgeable IT Systems Administrator to support the networking, compute administration, and application support needs of our launch environment. This role will be pivotal to the enablement of safe and sustained launch cadence, directly supporting our goals of making humanity a multiplanetary species. Candidate must be comfortable working on mission-critical systems with a sense of urgency appropriate to the responsibilities while maintaining attention to detail and operational excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Augment and deploy new IT infrastructure, including networking, server, and desktop hardware directly supporting mission critical networks across the country.
• Perform periodic systems upgrades and patches in between critical operations, sometimes on weekends and evenings.
• Monitor IT services and respond aggressively to incidents to maintain systems performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to proactively identify and resolve potential technical issues with systems deployments.
• Author and maintain documentation for IT systems, from systems overview documents and design drawings to procedures.
• Leverage automation tools and contribute to IT systems engineering efforts.
• Ensure that systems are configured and maintained in compliance with industry and cybersecurity standards (e.g. ITAR, ISO, NIST).

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• 3+ years of experience in IT systems administration.
• Hands-on experience with Linux or Windows server administration.
• Experience with enterprise network administration and deployment.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Working knowledge of network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, NTP, PTP etc), firewalls administration and cybersecurity technologies.
• Proficiency in scripting (Bash/Powershell/Python) and automation frameworks (Terraform, Ansible, Puppet).
• Familiarity with Active Directory and multi-platform authentication/identification environments.
• Experience with virtualization platforms and tools.
• Understanding of Layer 1 configuration best practices and multiplexing technologies.
• Working knowledge, including the ability to setup, configure, upgrade, manage, and troubleshoot, Windows-based systems and services (i.e. SCCM, Active Directory).
• Exposure to real-time systems and industrial telemetry networks.
• Experience with configuration management, provisioning, infrastructure as code, and other DevOps concepts and tools.
• Excellent communications skills with the ability to communicate with internal/external customers, vendors, management etc. in both formal and informal situations.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be willing to work extended hours, weekends, and night shifts as launch manifest dictates.
• Must have valid driver's license.
• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral.
• Willing to be on after-hours on-call rotation.
• Willing to travel (up to 20%) and potential time at sea supporting marine systems.
• Ability to lift up to 30lbs. unassisted
• Ability to work at heights.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay Range:

IT Systems Administrator: $95,000.00 - $120,000.00/per year

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 and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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