Sr. Global Operations Engineer (Starlink)

SpaceX
Bastrop, TX
Career-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Aimed at mid-level operations engineers who thrive in high-impact, cross-functional environments and possess strong data-driven problem-solving skills.

Best fit for

  • Mid-level professionals with a dual engineering and business background and a history of driving operational efficiency
    — “Advanced degree or dual background preferred (engineering + business/economics)”
  • Candidates with 5+ years of operations or consulting experience and a track record of project ownership
    — “5+ years of experience in an operations, process improvement, manufacturing, and/or consulting environment”
  • Individuals who can translate complex data into actionable strategic decisions with a focus on scalability
    — “Design and own lean data frameworks that surface only the signals that matter”

Things to consider

  • This role requires a high level of availability for extended hours and weekend work
    — “Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed”
  • Travel is a significant component of the role, with up to 50% travel expected
    — “Willingness to travel up to 50%”
  • U.S. citizenship or residency is required to meet ITAR export regulations
    — “To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in first-principles thinking and process simplification in your resume and interviews
    — “ruthlessly apply first-principles methodologies to eliminate waste”
  • Demonstrate your ability to lead and deliver projects with aggressive timelines and high impact
    — “Own complex projects end-to-end with bias for action: set aggressive timelines”
  • Emphasize your hands-on experience with data frameworks and automation tools like Python and SQL
    — “Proficiency in programming/scripting languages (Python, SQL, C#, or similar) for analysis and automation”
  • Showcase your experience in influencing leadership and cross-functional teams to drive decisions
    — “Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to prioritize, aggressively de-scope requests”
  • Demonstrate your ability to create scalable, simple solutions and maintain living knowledge systems
    — “Establish living knowledge systems with extreme ownership: codify essential best practices”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

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

What success looks like

  • driving customer retention
  • improving operational efficiency
  • scaling business operations
Typical background
operationsmanufacturingconsulting

Skills & requirements

Required

Process ImprovementData AnalysisProject ManagementLean MethodologiesSix SigmaFirst-principles Thinking

Preferred

Complex Problem-solvingStrategic PlanningData Visualization

Stack & domain

ExcelSQLPythonLeadershipCommunicationOperationsProcess ImprovementData Analysis

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.

Sr. GLOBAL OPERATIONS ENGINEER (STARLINK)

Starlink is leveraging SpaceX’s experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system and largest satellite constellation. The Starlink Growth team combines deep analysis, business strategy, and operational excellence to drive customer retention, improve lifetime value, and scale the business.

As a Sr. Operations Engineer, you will own high-impact initiatives from end to end. You will identify complex problems, build scalable solutions, influence cross-functional leadership, and translate data into strategic decisions that directly affect Starlink’s growth, profitability, and operational effectiveness.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Take extreme ownership of process improvement: ruthlessly apply first-principles methodologies to eliminate waste, scale self-service, accelerate resolution, and simplify complex processes

Identify systemic engineering and operational defects with bias for action; rapidly determine root causes and drive comprehensive solutions at scale—both immediate fixes and permanent preventative systems that remove recurring requirements

Design and own lean data frameworks that surface only the signals that matter across the customer journey and internal operations (logistics, finance, etc.), enabling fast decisions

Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to prioritize, aggressively de-scope requests, allocate resources, and kill non-essential work so high-impact solutions stick

Own complex projects end-to-end with bias for action: set aggressive timelines, remove blockers, influence stakeholders, drive tight feedback loops, and deliver results without waiting for perfect conditions

Lead design reviews and rollouts with design, engineering, logistics, and operations teams—challenge scope, strip unnecessary requirements, run lean betas, and create only the enablement materials that actually move the needle

Establish living knowledge systems with extreme ownership: codify essential best practices, continuously prune outdated documentation, and ensure systems stay simple and scalable

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or STEM field

5+ years of experience in an operations, process improvement, manufacturing, and/or consulting environment

3+ years of experience with, Excel, SQL, and Python

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Proven ability to thrive and deliver in environments with competing priorities and aggressive timelines

Experience leading complex operational and strategic initiatives at scale

Strong proficiency in statistics, data analysis, and data visualization; ability to turn data into decisive action

Demonstrated ability to independently define, scope, de-scope, and own projects end-to-end

Hands-on experience with lean, Six Sigma, and first-principles process improvement methodologies

Proficiency in programming/scripting languages (Python, SQL, C#, or similar) for analysis and automation

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a track record of influencing senior leaders

Extreme ownership, strong bias for action, and a history of building simple, scalable solutions

Strong interpersonal skills with experience mentoring others and leading small, high-performing project teams

Advanced degree or dual background preferred (engineering + business/economics)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Willingness to travel up to 50%

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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