Sr. IT Systems Administrator, Mission Systems

Spacex; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a highly skilled Sr. IT Systems Administrator to support networking, compute, and applications for our launch environment across multiple sites.

The role is critical to enabling safe, reliable, high-cadence launches and requires a broad technical skill set as a generalist across IT disciplines. You will design, deploy, and maintain IT infrastructure, provide on-site support during launches, automate operations with modern tooling, and ensure compliance with ITAR, ISO, and NIST

Qualifications

• 5+ years of IT systems administration experience.
• Experience with Linux and Windows server administration.
• Experience designing, deploying, supporting and troubleshooting enterprise networks.

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy and augment IT infrastructure including networking, server, and desktop hardware that directly supports mission-critical networks across the country.
• Provide direct IT support during launch and test campaigns.
• Perform periodic systems upgrades and maintenance in between critical operations, sometimes on weekends and evenings.
• Proactively monitor IT services and respond rapidly to incidents to ensure high availability and optimal 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, including systems overview, design drawings and operational procedures.

Skills

IT systems admin

Linux admin

Windows admin

Enterprise networks

Scripting Bash

Automation tools

Active Directory

Virtualization

Cybersecurity basics

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Puppet

Job description

Sr. IT Systems Administrator, Mission Systems

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.

SpaceX is looking for a highly skilled and versatile Launch Sr. IT Systems Administrator to support the networking, compute, and application support needs of our launch environment. This role is critical to enabling safe, reliable, and high-cadence launch operations across multiple sites. The ideal candidate thrives in mission-critical settings, brings a strong sense of urgency balanced with operational excellence, and is comfortable operating as a technical generalist across multiple IT disciplines.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, deploy and augment IT infrastructure including networking, server, and desktop hardware that directly supports mission-critical networks across the country.
• Provide direct IT support during launch and test campaigns.
• Perform periodic systems upgrades and maintenance in between critical operations, sometimes on weekends and evenings.
• Proactively monitor IT services and respond rapidly to incidents to ensure high availability and optimal 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, including systems overview, design drawings and operational procedures.
• Leverage automation tools and contribute to broader IT systems engineering and infrastructure-as-code initiatives.
• 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.
• 5+ years of experience in IT systems administration.
• Experience with both Linux and Windows server administration.
• Experience designing, deploying, supporting and troubleshooting enterprise networks.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Working knowledge of network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, NTP, PTP etc.), firewall administration and cybersecurity technologies.
• Proficiency in scripting (Bash/Powershell/Python) and automation frameworks (Terraform, Ansible, Puppet).
• Familiarity with Active Directory and multi-platform authentication/identity environments.
• Experience with virtualization platforms and tools.
• Understanding of Layer 1 configuration best practices and multiplexing technologies.
• Working knowledge of Windows-based systems and services, including the ability to set up, configure, upgrade, manage, and troubleshoot said infrastructure.
• Ability to administer and troubleshoot Linux-based systems and services through command line.
• Experience supporting real-time systems, industrial control networks, or operational technology (OT) environments in aerospace, defense, energy, or similar high-reliability industries.
• Experience with configuration management, provisioning, infrastructure as code, CI/CD pipelines and other DevOps concepts/tools.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate with internal/external customers, vendors, management etc. in both formal and informal situations.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to pass DoD background check for launch site access.
• 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).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $95,000.00 - $120,000.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $150,000.00

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 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.

• 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].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.