Operations Engineer (Production)

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, Dental

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

3 weeks paid vacation

10+ paid holidays per year

Stock options / long-term incentives

Employee discounts

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking an Operations Engineer (Production) to lead cross‑functional teams in optimizing Falcon and Dragon production, testing, launch, and recovery operations. You will apply operations research, industrial engineering, and data science to complex optimization and simulation challenges in a fast‑paced environment.

The role emphasizes production strategy development, process modeling, KPI tracking, and collaboration with supply chain, engineering, operations, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in analysis or modeling dynamic systems using Excel, SQL, or Python/R.

Responsibilities

• Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, cost problems for production, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions.
• Develop production strategy to mitigate risks and improve quality, output, safety, and cost.
• Create process flow models to analyze production system behavior and synchronize output.
• Identify operational challenges, determine root causes, and develop solutions.
• Develop and track KPI, identify actions to optimize production to meet demand.
• Improve systems across production elements and departments.
• Collaborate with supply chain, engineering, operations, and accounting to synchronize efforts.
• Capture best practices and manage organizational knowledge.

Skills

statistics

data analysis

visualization

fast-paced environments

cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

Tools

Excel

SQL

Python/R

Power BI

CAD software

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.

OPERATIONS ENGINEER (PRODUCTION)

The operations engineering team supports Falcon and Dragon production programs through strategic planning, optimization of production processes, and alignment of resources to tasks. We are seeking engineers to lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams that optimize production, testing, launch, and recovery operations in a fast-paced environment. We are seeking emerging leaders who can join teams and apply principles of operations engineering, operations research, industrial engineering, and data science to complex optimization and simulation problems. We are searching for qualified engineers who can conduct complex problem analysis and steer strategic decisions within production.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, cost problems for production, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions
• Work as part of a team to develop and manage production strategy to mitigate future production risks and seize emerging opportunities to improve quality, output, safety, and cost
• Develop process flow models to analyze production system behavior and synchronize output with other elements of the company
• Identify operational challenges within the organization, determine root cause, and develop appropriate solutions
• Develop and track key performance measures, and identify decision points and actions to optimize production to meet demand
• Actively develop system and process improvements within and between production elements
• Collaborate with cross‑departmental partners in supply chain, engineering, operations, and accounting groups to synchronize efforts
• Capture best practices of production systems, and manage organizational knowledge and lessons-learned

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, or Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Proficiency with statistics, data analysis, cost/benefit analysis, and visualization
• Experience with CAD software, Power BI, and discrete event modeling tools
• Experience with inventory, production, and capacity planning (including MRP/ERP systems)
• Experience as an industrial, operations, process or manufacturing engineer in a developmental manufacturing environment
• Experience with lean, six sigma, and related production principles
• Experience or education in management science and engineering, operations engineering, operations research, or industrial engineering
• Experience as a contributor to multi‑disciplinary and cross‑functional teams
• Ability to work in fast‑paced, high stress environments
• Excellent written and communication skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major milestones
• Must be able to travel - up to 10% work week travel may be required to other sites
• Must be able to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg
• This position is based in Hawthorne, CA and requires being onsite - remote work not considered

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00

• 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 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 Aff… or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].