Operations Engineer (Starshield)
- US citizenship
- ITAR / US person
How this pay compares
This posting states $100k–$160k a year. Open mission operations engineer jobs in California post a median of $152k a year, the middle half $133k–$172k, across 66 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.
Mission and launch operations engineers in California: pay by town and employer
About the job
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 (STARSHIELD) The operations engineering team supports Starshield through strategic planning, optimization of production processes, and alignment of resources to tasks.
We are looking for engineers to lead cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams that optimize and accurately track towards important national defense milestones in a fast-paced environment. We are seeking emerging leaders who can join teams and apply principles of operations engineering, operations research, industrial engineering, and data science to complex optimization and simulation problems.
We are searching for qualified engineers who can conduct complex problem analysis, and steer strategic decisions. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, production processes, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions - Work as part of a team to develop and manage strategy to mitigate future launch risks and seize emerging opportunities to improve quality, output, safety, and cost - Develop process flow models to analyze production system behavior and synchronize output with other elements of the Starshield program - Identify operational challenges within the organization; determine root cause, and develop appropriate solutions - Develop and track key performance measures, and identify decision points and actions to optimize production to meet demand - Actively develop system and process improvements within and between functional areas - Collaborate with cross-departmental partners in supply chain, engineering, and accounting groups to synchronize efforts - Capture best practices of production systems, and manage organizational knowledge and lessons-learned - Build models and equipment layouts to aid in strategic space planning for the Starshield program ## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline - 1+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, or Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems ## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - Proficiency with statistics, data analysis, cost/benefit analysis, and visualization - Experience with CAD software, Power BI, and discrete event modeling tools - 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 lean, six sigma, and related production principles - Experience or education in management science and engineering, operations engineering, operations research, or industrial engineering - Experience as a contributor to multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams - Ability to work in fast-paced, high stress environments - Excellent written and communication skills ## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major milestones - Must be able to travel - up to 10% work week travel may be required to other sites - Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg ## Pay Range Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00 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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program. ## ITAR REQUIREMENTS - 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 Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com .
From SpaceX's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Chipton-RossEngineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense engineering staffing firm with offices in El Segundo, Long Beach and Playa Del Rey, California, Charleston, Pascagoula and Newport News, placing engineers, designers and technicians on contract and direct hire.
Places: Mechanical, Avionics, Systems & Test, Technicians
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New space manufacturing and technician jobs in California, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About SpaceX
Designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.
Pay on its listings: 53.2% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on SpaceX's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More space manufacturing and technician jobs
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics & Test$115,200–$144,000/yr
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer II - Avionics & Test$132,000–$176,000/yr
- Manufacturing Engineer$100,000–$130,000/yr
- Manufacturing Engineer (Tanks)$68,000–$80,000/yr
- CNC Lathe Machinist I and II, Prototype Shop$29–$40/hr
- Manufacturing Engineer, Machining & Additive Associate (Winter 2027)$1,925/wk
A certified technician, machinist or welder?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
SpaceX openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from SpaceX's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.