Sr. Operations Engineer, Launch Strategy (Falcon)

SpaceX•Vandenberg Village, CA

1d•$155,000 - $215,000

About The Position

SpaceX is seeking a Senior Operations Engineer for Launch Strategy (Falcon) to help formalize and execute the future launch plan. The role combines operational analysis, industrial and process engineering, and business intelligence to inform decisions in a fast-paced environment. It supports Launch manifest management and alignment across recovery, pads, vehicle maintenance and operations, production, test, and support teams. The engineer will translate manifest needs into executable operational plans, improve processes and systems, and help teams meet launch targets.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics.
At least 2 years of experience in operations, process, manufacturing engineering, or a production/launch environment.
At least 2 years using data for analysis or modeling in Power BI, Python, or R.
Willingness to travel to Vandenberg, Starbase, Hawthorne, and other sites for business needs, up to 20%.
Ability to pass an Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
Willingness to work extended hours, nights, and weekends when the manifest requires it.
Willingness to regularly spend time in the field at pads, recovery locations, and the production floor.
Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a production, fleet, or launch manifest, including change control and cross-team schedule integration.
Project management experience defining, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing work.
Ability to shift priorities quickly in a fast-changing environment.
Clear communication across disciplines and management levels, including giving and receiving feedback; curiosity and a bias toward building strong working relationships.
Experience applying lean and quality tools, including process mapping, value-stream mapping, Six Sigma, Kaizen, root-cause analysis, and corrective action.
Experience with production-systems analysis, planning, integrated process scheduling, and asset allocation.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including developing options, cost-benefit cases, and clear recommendations for peers and leadership.

Responsibilities

Support Launch manifest planning and change management; maintain an up-to-date launch plan, assess the impact of changes, and recommend decisions to keep the manifest achievable.
Provide daily visibility, weekly status, and monthly reviews of manifest and operational performance, including risks and required schedule changes.
Translate the manifest into capacity, schedule, and resource demand for pads, recovery, vehicle maintenance and operations, production, and test, and work with those teams to close gaps.
Create feedback loops between manifest execution, requirements for minimal viable products, and future proven-system designs.
Develop a deep understanding of the launch ecosystem and turn it into quantified, executable improvements.
Integrate, organize, standardize, and relate operational data; produce insights, reports, and alerts to support manifest and operational decisions.
Develop and track key performance metrics, identify decision points, and recommend actions to optimize production and engineering against the manifest and launch targets.
Interpret trends and operating metrics, brief leadership, set or adjust launch strategy and targets, and help teams act on the data.
Provide day-to-day tactical recommendations on scheduling and execution in support of the manifest.
Identify, develop, and implement process improvements, including process engineering, value-stream mapping, and automation; roll out best practices to internal and external stakeholders in priority order.
Solve engineering problems related to safety, reliability, and rate when these constrain the manifest.
Partner with finance and Launch teams to build and execute the annual operating plan, evaluate capital-expenditure return on investment, and identify and capture operating-expense reductions tied to manifest needs.
Standardize labor analysis assumptions, methods, and tools; support headcount planning, efficiency roadmaps, and demand forecasting against the manifest.

Benefits

Potential long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Comprehensive medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
Up to three weeks of accrued paid vacation.
Ten or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave under company policy.