Operations Engineer (Starshield)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock incentives

401(k) retirement plan

Medical, vision, dental

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking an Operations Engineer (Starshield) to lead cross‑functional teams in optimizing production processes and strategic planning for national defense milestones. You will build models, identify root causes, and develop solutions to improve quality, output, safety, and cost while aligning resources across the Starshield program.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering and 1+ years of analytical experience using Excel, SQL, or Python/R.

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, production processes, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions.
• Work with cross-functional teams to mitigate launch risks and improve quality, output, safety, and cost.
• Develop process flow models to analyze production system behavior and synchronize output with Starshield program elements.
• Identify operational challenges, determine root causes, and develop solutions.
• Develop and track KPIs and actions to optimize production to meet demand.
• Collaborate with supply chain, engineering, and accounting teams to synchronize efforts.
• Capture best practices and manage organizational knowledge and lessons learned.

Skills

Excel

SQL

Python/R

Statistics

Data visualization

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

CAD software

Power BI

Discrete event modeling tools

MRP/ERP systems

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 (STARSHIELD)

The operations engineering team supports Starshield through strategic planning, optimization of production processes, and alignment of resources to tasks. We are looking for engineers to lead cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams that optimize and accurately track towards important national defense milestones 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.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, production processes, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions
• Work as part of a team to develop and manage strategy to mitigate future launch 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 Starshield program
• 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 functional areas
• Collaborate with cross-departmental partners in supply chain, engineering, and accounting groups to synchronize efforts
• Capture best practices of production systems, and manage organizational knowledge and lessons-learned
• Build models and equipment layouts to aid in strategic space planning for the Starshield program

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
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

• 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
• 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
• various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 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
• Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program

• 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 to [e-mail].