Operations Engineer, Starbase Infrastructure

SpaceX • Starbase, TX, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

SpaceX's Starbase infrastructure, encompassing site power, HVAC, facilities, production fluids, industrial gas, water, and wastewater, is managed by technician shops. This Operations Engineer role is crucial for standardizing how these shops plan, execute, and close work, ensuring the site operates as a unified system. The goal is to adopt existing SpaceX and site standards where applicable, creating unique processes only when necessary and clearly documenting the reasons. When issues arise, the engineer will identify the most effective solution, whether it involves a tool (including software and AI), a physical modification, or a change in personnel standards. This role ensures that work orders, preventive maintenance, punch lists, and labor hours have consistent meaning across all shops. The engineer will write work orders for their own initiatives, while supervisors and leads will manage the daily workflow.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of professional experience in industrial plant, central plant, utilities, facilities, power generation, process operations, or maintenance engineering

Nice To Haves

• 2+ years in a process plant, municipal or industrial utility, semiconductor or data-center facilities, shipyard, or similar 24/7 plant
• Hands-on work management experience with Warp, Foundation, Maximo, SAP PM, or equivalent CMMS, including the ability to write and close work orders to support initiatives.
• Experience reading P&IDs, electrical one-lines, and OEM manuals, and writing procedures for technicians.
• Experience commissioning or establishing operational readiness for new equipment.
• Working knowledge of LOTO, MOC, confined space, and energized/pressurized systems.
• Familiarity with at least two of the following: medium-voltage or industrial electrical; HVAC/BMS; industrial gas or compressed air; water/wastewater; rotating equipment.
• TCEQ public water/wastewater or similar permitted-plant exposure.
• Practical use of SQL, Power BI, scripting, or AI for automating administrative tasks related to WOs, PMs, and reports.
• Experience overseeing contractors and vendors on a live industrial site.
• Ability to work effectively in an integrated collaborative team environment, interacting with technicians, engineers, and leadership.
• Internships, clubs, or other hands-on extra-curricular activities are considered.

Responsibilities

• Standardize how work is requested, planned, executed, and closed across all infrastructure shops, establishing a single standard for work orders, preventive maintenance, estimates, and closeouts, with documented exceptions for specific systems (e.g., MV electrical, TCEQ water, cryogenic gas).
• Adopt company and site standards (Warp, Foundation, LOTO, MOC, commissioning turnover) and integrate processes from other SpaceX plants where appropriate.
• Select the most effective solution for problems: software/AI/data, a physical or tooling change, or a personnel skill and behavior standard, clearly justifying the chosen approach.
• Define and improve the work-management system, including Warp/Foundation work orders, PM and PdM backlogs, kitting, as-found/as-left closeouts, and critical spares. Write WOs to support driven initiatives, while supervisors and engineering manage daily WO writing and planning releases.
• Provide shops with visibility into metrics such as time estimates vs. actuals, remaining hours, and blocking jobs to enable effective staffing.
• Oversee commissioning and operational readiness for new or modified systems, including punch lists, first PMs, mBOM/spare setup, procedures, and trained turnover to operations.
• Translate design packages (one-lines, P&IDs, vendor submittals, construction RFPs) into actionable isolation plans, LOTO procedures, work instructions, and hold points for floor execution.
• Establish asset identity for informal equipment, detailing its function, dependencies, PM requirements, and WO location.
• Quantify shop performance through metrics like availability, PM compliance, WO aging, estimate accuracy, and contractor vs. in-house mix, and brief supervisors and site leadership on these metrics.
• Develop and implement shop procedures, training leads and technicians on the standards to ensure they can operate independently, including managing unique processes.

Benefits

• Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed
• Ability to work in extreme outdoor environments (heat, cold, wind, rain)
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted, climb ladders, and walk the plants and shops
• Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites when needed (up to 15%)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level