Operations Engineer (Starship Components)
SpaceXHawthorne, CA$100k – $115kPosted 30 March 2026
Tech Stack
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 (STARSHIP COMPONENTS)
The Starship Components Operations Build team owns the factory design and material flow to enable manufacturing, machining, and testing of flow control devices and mechanisms that drive critical capabilities on Starship/Super Heavy - from regulators and butterfly valves to flap/fin actuators. The Components Operations Engineering team builds the machine that makes the machine, in this case the factory that builds the components listed above. Factory build and expansion, process flow, machine moves, and project planning all fall under the scope of this team. Ops engineers have an eye for detail and simplicity and make that become reality on the factory floor. If you like strategic planning, juggling many different priorities, improving part flow, and spending most of your time away from your desk, a role on the operations engineering team may be for you!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Design and own factory and production area layouts following the rules of clear visual indicators and linear flow
Conduct job walks with vendors, negotiate prices and hold vendors to schedule
Host process walks of production lines, and ask questions to determine what process steps can be deleted or simplified and help kick off the changes
Execute on complex projects in the minimum amount of time and expense to the business
Get hands-on, lead by example to get projects completed rapidly
Actively develop system and process improvements between production teams
Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, cost problems for production to guide decisions
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
1+ years of professional or internship experience in a manufacturing environment
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Process engineering experience including project management, capacity modeling, process mapping, and layouts
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 industrial facilities: HVAC, gases, electrical, structural/foundations, etc.
1+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, or Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems
Experience with lean, six sigma, and related production principles
Ability to work well across teams and skill sets to find the simplest and best solution
Experience as a contributor to multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to stand for long durations and work directly with hardware on the floor
Ability to stoop and bend when necessary
Ability to travel and work long hours or weekends when necessary
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range: Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/per year
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 ... (truncated, view full listing at source)
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