Sr. Operations Engineer, Launch Strategy (Falcon)

Launch is looking for an Operations Engineer to help lead and guide the organization and its partners by formalizing the future launch plan, defining operational targets, and helping teams execute.  The perfect candidate combines operational analysis, industrial and process engineering, and business intelligence (data engineering, visualization, and analysis) in a fast-paced environment to help influence business decisions.

A key part of this role is supporting manifest management for Launch and ensuring alignment across core stakeholders.  This person will work alongside core stakeholders, including recovery, pads, vehicle maintenance and operations, production, test, and support teams to achieve our Launch goals.  Analytics, process engineering, and cross-functional alignment exist to make that plan executable and to hit our targets.

• →Support Launch manifest planning and change management. Help maintain a current picture of the launch plan, assess the effect of changes, and recommend decisions so the manifest stays achievable.
• →Give daily visibility, weekly status, and monthly reviews of manifest and operations performance, including where the plan is at risk and what has to move.
• →Translate the manifest into capacity, schedule, and resource demand for pads, recovery, vehicle maintenance and operations, production, and test. Close gaps with those teams before they become launch slips.
• →Create feedback loops from manifest execution into requirements for minimal viable products and future proven-system designs.
• →Build a deep understanding of the launch ecosystem (teams, hardware, production floor, environment, process, systems, tools, and constraints) and turn that into quantified, executable improvements.
• →Integrate, organize, standardize, and relate operational data. Turn data into insights, reports, and alerts that support manifest and operational decisions.
• →Develop and track key performance metrics, spot decision points, and recommend actions that optimize production and engineering against the manifest and launch targets.
• →Read trends and operating metrics, brief leadership, set or adjust launch strategy and targets, and work with teams to act on what the data shows.
• →Give day-to-day tactical recommendations on scheduling and execution in support of the manifest.
• →Identify, develop, and implement process improvements. Run process engineering, value-stream mapping, and automation, and roll best practices out to internal and external stakeholders in priority order.
• →Solve engineering problems aimed at safety, reliability, and rate, where those constraints limit the manifest.
• →Partner with finance and launch teams to build and execute the annual operating plan, run capital-expenditure return-on-investment trades, and find and capture operating-expense reductions, tied to what the manifest requires.
• →Standardize labor analysis (assumptions, methods, and tools) and help launch teams with headcount planning, efficiency roadmaps, and demand forecasting against the manifest.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics.
• 2+ years of experience as an operations, process, manufacturing engineering or production / launch environment.
• 2+ years using data for analysis or modeling within Power BI, Python, or R.

• Experience supporting a production, fleet, or launch manifest, including change control and cross-team schedule integration.
• Project management experience: ability to define, plan, execute, monitor, and close work.
• Ability to shift priorities quickly in a fast, changing environment.
• Clear communication across disciplines and levels of management, 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 building options, cost-benefit cases, and a clear recommendation for peers and leadership.

• Willing to travel to Vandenberg, Starbase, Hawthorne, and other sites in support of business needs, up to 20%.
• Able to pass an Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
• Willing to work extended hours, nights, and weekends when the manifest requires it.
• Willing to spend time in the field on a regular basis (pad, recovery, and production floor).

• 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.