Operations Engineer (Production)

SpaceX is hiring an Operations Engineer (Production) at our Hawthorne, California facility — a full-time position that optimizes production systems for the Falcon and Dragon programs. You'll drive manufacturing innovation, partner across engineering and supply chain, and solve high-impact operational challenges that accelerate humanity's path to Mars.

The Opportunity

Join a team that bridges production strategy, data analytics, and systems optimization. You'll tackle multidisciplinary problems in a mission-focused environment—leading initiatives that improve quality, reduce costs, and synchronize capacity across production elements. This is emerging leadership: you'll shape how rockets get built.

Core Duties

• Design analytical tools to assess production capacity, delivery timelines, and cost drivers across manufacturing and supply chain
• Build process flow models and simulations to understand system behavior and align output with company objectives
• Contribute to strategic production planning efforts that identify risks and seize efficiency opportunities
• Diagnose operational bottlenecks, trace root causes, and develop targeted improvements
• Establish and track key performance indicators to guide optimization toward demand fulfillment
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within and across production domains
• Partner with supply chain, engineering, operations, and finance teams to synchronize planning and execution
• Codify operational best practices and organizational knowledge to strengthen institutional learning

Requirements

Baseline Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• Minimum one year of professional experience using Excel, SQL, Python, or R for systems modeling or quantitative analysis

Preferred Background:

• Expertise in statistics, data visualization, and cost-benefit analysis
• Experience with CAD, Power BI, or discrete-event simulation tools
• Background in inventory planning, production scheduling, or ERP/MRP system administration
• Prior role in manufacturing, operations, process, or industrial engineering in development environments
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Education or experience in operations research, operations engineering, or industrial engineering
• Track record collaborating within multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams
• Comfort in high-pressure, fast-paced settings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work extended shifts and weekends to meet mission milestones
• Ability to travel up to 10% of work time to company sites and launch facilities
• Eligibility to pass Department of Defense background investigations for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg operations
• Must work onsite in Hawthorne, California—remote work is not available for this position

More About SpaceX

SpaceX was founded on the belief that human expansion into space is essential to our future, with Mars settlement as our ultimate objective. From our Hawthorne headquarters, we develop revolutionary launch and spacecraft systems making this possible. Competitive compensation includes base salary of $100,000–$140,000 based on experience and level, equity grants, performance bonuses, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and employee stock purchase opportunities. U.S. export control requirements mandate that applicants be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or eligible for required government authorization.

Next Steps

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.