Principal Operations Engineer (Application Software)

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

PRINCIPAL OPERATIONS ENGINEER APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Do you want to be part of the team that builds the software SpaceX uses to design build launch and operate rockets and satellites Do you want to help Application Software scale as the company grows in launch rate complexity sites compute and acquisitions Do you want to work with SpaceX leadership take on nebulous problems with no obvious owner and turn them into future-looking strategy the org can actually run

As the Principal Operations Engineer for ASW you will do all of these. The Application Software team is looking for a dedicated individual to directly support the ASW executive team through growth strategy AOP / capital and headcount planning building a site activation plan and many other strategic and tactical problems. This person must be able to help with tactical planning that unblocks fast-paced software delivery while simultaneously informing long-term robust strategies for how ASW grows with the company across Corporate Functions Launch and Missions Flight Software Supply Chain and Logistics and Enterprise / Applied AI. You will take the poorly scoped future-looking questions what ASW should look like at the next order of magnitude and drive them to a point of view a plan an owner and accountability of seeing the plan through. This is not a slide-only job: when a plan is blocked on a tool a rack or a missing integration you get your hands dirty and contribute to the software or hardware build yourself.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Run the Application Software (ASW) operating cadence with the director and leadership team: weekly/monthly rhythm decision log and the staff plan that matches company demand to teams
• Own the ASW AOP (headcount opex capex vendors) from bottoms-up inputs through Finance review in-year change control and AOP-vs-actuals
• Own the M&A playbook and execute integrations: diligence on people software vendors and data; day-1 / 30 / 100 cutover; keep vs. rewrite vs. retire; where acquired teams land
• Own site activation for ASW: coverage model local intake/support hiring a go-live plan aligned to first hardware first shift or first customer
• Own compute and hardware capacity: CPU/GPU/storage forecast; server-rack layout power cooling and floor space with IT/facilities
• Redesign intake prioritization and SLAs so work enters ASW through one process not a different path per team site or acquired org
• Tackle nebulous multi-org problems with no playbook yet; pull a future-looking ASW growth strategy (org sites platforms compute) out of ambiguity and drive it to a decision
• Get hands-on where it unblocks the plan: write software land an integration rack and cable hardware bring up a server row or join a site/hardware build until it is actually live
• Lead a team of 2-3 engineers/analysts; hold a short metric set and use it to change behavior

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in operations engineering computer science mathematics physics or a related technical field
• 7 years of experience or education in management science and engineering operations engineering operations research industrial engineering or equivalent quantitative operations work
• 5 years of experience in operations strategy program management or technical leadership in a high-rate engineering or software environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree in management science & engineering operations research industrial engineering or similar
• Track record of owning or heavily contributing to an AOP / annual budget (headcount opex capex) for a technical org
• Experience forecasting and standing up compute capacity: servers GPUs storage server racks power/cooling hardware BOM and vendor lead times
• Experience standing up operations at new sites and/or running M&A diligence and post-merger integration for software IT or technical teams
• Proven ability to take an undefined cross-functional problem and produce a durable strategy not just a short-term workaround
• Ability to contribute directly to software (scripting services internal tools integrations) and/or hardware builds (racks servers networking site bring-up) rather than only coordinating them
• Comfort with ambiguous executive problems; strong quantitative chops (SQL Excel Python AI) without over-instrumenting; can write a one-pager leadership will actually read
• Ability to influence without authority across engineering recruiting finance IT facilities and site leadership
• Bias for action; willing to walk a rack row a factory floor or a finance deck when that is what the problem requires

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Must be willing to travel frequently to SpaceX sites

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 3: $180000.00 - $275000.00

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.

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 SpaceXs Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to .

Required Experience:

Staff IC