IT Systems Administrator, Manufacturing

SpaceX; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking an IT Systems Administrator for manufacturing environments to support networking, compute administration, and application services on mission-critical systems. The role emphasizes incident response, documentation, and ITAR/ISO/NIST compliance across rocket manufacturing facilities.

Candidate will augment IT infrastructure, deploy patches, and work with cross-functional teams to ensure reliable operations and secure, scalable IT services in a fast-paced production setting.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of IT systems administration in manufacturing/factory environments.
• Hands-on Linux or Windows server administration.
• Hands-on enterprise network administration and deployment.
• Experience troubleshooting network connectivity to manufacturing equipment.
• Familiarity with ITAR, ISO, and NIST cybersecurity standards.

Responsibilities

• Augment and deploy new IT infrastructure, including networking, server, and desktop hardware supporting mission-critical networks in rocket manufacturing factories.
• Perform periodic systems upgrades and patches outside critical operations, sometimes on weekends/evenings.
• Monitor IT services and respond aggressively to incidents to maintain systems performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve potential technical issues with deployments.
• Document IT systems with design drawings, procedures, and maintenance records.
• Leverage automation tools and contribute to IT systems engineering efforts.
• Ensure systems are configured and maintained in compliance with ITAR, ISO, and NIST standards.

Skills

Networking

Server administration

Active Directory

Virtualization

Cybersecurity

Documentation

DevOps

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalency certificate

Tools

SCCM

Active Directory

VMware

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, MANUFACTURING

SpaceX is looking for a highly skilled and knowledgeable IT Systems Administrator to support the networking, compute administration, and application support needs of our rocket manufacturing factories. This role will be pivotal to the enablement of sustained launch cadence, directly supporting our goals of making humanity a multiplanetary species. You must be comfortable working on life-safety and 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 in our rocket manufacturing factories.
• 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 in manufacturing/factory environments.
• Hands‑on experience with Linux or Windows server administration.
• Hands‑on experience with enterprise network administration and deployment.
• Experience troubleshooting network connectivity to manufacturing equipment.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience troubleshooting hardware issues and replacing hardware on rackmount servers.
• Working knowledge of network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, NTP, PTP etc), firewalls administration and cybersecurity technologies.
• 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.
• Confidence to challenge the status quo and drive continuous improvement of manufacturing IT systems, networks, and processes.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willingness to participate in an after‑hours on‑call rotation and work extended hours or weekends as necessary.
• Willingness to travel (up to 20%, including flying to other sites worldwide) and potential time at sea supporting marine systems.
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Ability to work at heights.
• Ability to drive (active valid driver's license).

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 reach out [e-mail].