Operations Engineer

About the role

You will join the Construction and Infrastructure Engineering team to design and activate advanced manufacturing facilities. This role focuses on optimizing the factory floor, managing process flows, and establishing department-level metrics to support rocket and engine production. You will be responsible for creating robust systems that translate strategic manufacturing goals into actionable floor-level initiatives. The position requires a deep understanding of how physical infrastructure supports high-volume production environments. You will act as a liaison between engineering design and daily operational execution. Success in this role means ensuring that the facility can scale efficiently while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Create visual standards for JIRA workflows, work boards, and PowerBI dashboards to provide clarity on operational status.
• Analyze business processes to identify gaps and implement continuous improvement projects that drive measurable efficiency gains.
• Develop metrics to track operational health and drive decision-making at both tactical and strategic levels.
• Use SQL and other data methods to identify trends and solve problems related to production throughput and resource allocation.
• Build automation tools to increase factory efficiency and reduce risk in repetitive or high-volume manual tasks.
• Audit maintenance and construction operations to streamline internal workflows and eliminate non-value-added steps.
• Manage site services contracts, including custodial, utility, and waste management, to ensure compliance and cost-effectiveness.
• Standardize procurement and material libraries to shorten project lead times and reduce errors in material handling.
• Coordinate with other SpaceX sites to align maintenance and construction efforts and share best practices across locations.
• Support the implementation of new technologies and methodologies within the factory environment to maintain a competitive edge.
• Ensure all operational changes are documented and communicated effectively to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Drive initiatives that improve safety, sustainability, and reliability across the construction and infrastructure portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in an engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of experience in operations or process improvement, including internships that provide relevant exposure.
• Proficiency in Excel, SQL, or Python to manipulate data and generate actionable insights.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and translate findings into operational strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex ideas clearly.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, requiring U.S. citizenship.
• Must be available for extended hours, weekends, and occasional short-notice domestic travel as project needs arise.
• ITAR compliance: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to access controlled data.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic workplace.
• Willingness to adhere to SpaceX policies, procedures, and safety protocols at all times.

Nice to have

• Background in manufacturing, supply chain, or production environments to bring relevant context to the role.
• Knowledge of statistics, data visualization, and cost-benefit analysis to support data-driven decisions.
• Experience with CAD, ArcGIS, Archibus, Power BI, and JIRA to accelerate onboarding and impact.
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems, inventory management, and capacity planning to optimize material flow.
• Training in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar production methodologies to drive waste reduction.
• Academic or professional background in industrial engineering, operations research, or management science to enhance problem-solving.
• Experience working within cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams to navigate complex organizational challenges.

Practical notes

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Salary: Level I ($100,000 - $115,000) or Level II ($110,000 - $135,000).

• Compensation includes potential stock options, long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, disability, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of vacation, and 10+ paid holidays.
• Must be available for extended hours, weekends, and occasional short-notice domestic travel.
• ITAR compliance: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

This role is situated within the Starbase, Texas facility of a company that pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts within this Texas-based enterprise. The position reports to the Construction and Infrastructure Engineering team and is expected to engage with tools and processes that are critical to the company's operational excellence. You will be expected to quickly understand complex systems and contribute to high-impact initiatives from day one. The successful candidate will demonstrate ownership, adaptability, and a strong commitment to safety and quality. This is an opportunity to work on the infrastructure that enables next-generation manufacturing in the aerospace industry.