Operations Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX
Hawthorne, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to analytical engineers with experience in production optimization and cross-functional collaboration working in national defense and aerospace manufacturing environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a background in industrial engineering and experience in lean methodologies
    — “Experience with lean, six sigma, and related production principles”
  • Professionals capable of strategic decision-making in high-pressure scenarios
    — “Work as part of a team to develop and manage strategy to mitigate future launch risks”
  • Individuals who have led or contributed to cross-functional teams in developmental manufacturing settings
    — “Experience as a contributor to multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams”

Things to consider

  • Travel commitment may require up to 10% of the work week at other sites
    — “Must be able to travel - up to 10% work week travel may be required to other sites”
  • Candidates must be eligible for Air Force background checks and classified program access
    — “Must be able to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg”
  • Candidates must meet U.S. Government export regulations for ITAR compliance
    — “To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national...”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with discrete event modeling and ERP systems in your resume and interview responses
    — “Experience with inventory, production, and capacity planning (including MRP/ERP systems)”
  • Emphasize your ability to identify root causes and develop solutions for operational challenges
    — “Identify operational challenges within the organization; determine root cause, and develop appropriate solutions”
  • Showcase your skills in data analysis and visualization using Python, R, or SQL
    — “1+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, or Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems”
  • Demonstrate your experience in strategic planning and resource allocation for complex systems
    — “Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, production processes, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions”
  • Demonstrate your ability to manage organizational knowledge and implement process improvements
    — “Capture best practices of production systems, and manage organizational knowledge and lessons-learned”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Develop tools to analyze delivery, capacity, production processes, supply chain, and operations to guide decisions
  • Develop process flow models to analyze production system behavior and synchronize output with other elements of the Starshield program
  • Capture best practices of production systems, and manage organizational knowledge and lessons-learned
Typical background
Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline1+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, or Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems

Skills & requirements

Required

ExcelSQLPythonROperations EngineeringOperations ResearchIndustrial EngineeringData Science

Preferred

StatisticsData AnalysisCost/benefit AnalysisVisualizationCAD SoftwarePower BIDiscrete Event Modeling ToolsInventory ManagementProduction PlanningCapacity PlanningMrp/erp SystemsLeanSix SigmaManagement Science And EngineeringMulti-disciplinary Team Collaboration

Stack & domain

ExcelSQLPythonRStatisticsData AnalysisCost/benefit AnalysisVisualizationCAD SoftwarePower BIDiscrete Event Modeling ToolsInventoryProductionCapacity PlanningMrp/erp SystemsLeanSix SigmaManagement Science And EngineeringOperations EngineeringOperations ResearchIndustrial EngineeringLeadershipCommunicationDefenseSpaceManufacturing

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

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

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

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. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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