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.
LEAD IT SYSTEMS ENGINEER, LAUNCH
As Lead IT Systems Engineer, you’re responsible for ensuring critical systems used in support of SpaceX’s launch operations are optimally tuned and ready to propel us towards our mission of becoming a multi-planetary species. This role requires excellent leadership skills, hands-on technical contribution, an action-oriented disposition, flexibility, and the propensity to flourish in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead a team of highly skilled IT professionals responsible for implementing and maintaining IT infrastructure that directly supports SpaceX’s launch operations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to distill requirements and design effective IT solutions that support the entire launch lifecycle from pre-flight preparations to post-launch analysis and recovery operations.
- Provide liaison support between SpaceX and the United States Space Force and NASA, participating in technical briefings, evaluating requirements and connecting appropriate resources to solve challenges.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to bolster the reliability of IT systems and advance team efficiency -- change management, performance metrics, monitoring, preventative maintenance, incident handling, customer request handling, etc.
- Oversee and participate in the day-to-day operation of IT systems, ensuring seamless functionality and reliability during critical launch windows.
- Provide coaching and mentorship to other members of the SpaceX team, fostering team cohesion, knowledge redundancy and professional growth.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline and 3+ years professional experience; OR 6+ years of professional experience in an IT administration or IT engineering role in lieu of a degree.
- 1+ years of professional experience leading technical teams and/or projects.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience working with server solutions (hardware and software) in Linux or Windows environments as well as enterprise-grade network infrastructure including switches, routers and firewalls.
- Ability to create and maintain detailed technical documentation and operational runbooks.
- Experience working in a mission-critical environment preferably within the aerospace or defense sectors.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong leadership skills including the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team of IT professionals.
- Ability to independently and effectively manage projects in an extremely fast paced and constantly changing environment.
- Analytical mindset with excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to recognizing and overcoming technical challenges.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willing to work extended hours or weekends as necessary.
- Ability to provide 24x7 on-call support in emergency situations.
- Valid driver's license.
- Able to lift 25lbs unassisted.
- Must be comfortable working at heights up to 110 meters with appropriate safety equipment.
- Recurring travel, up to 20% including air travel and occasional extended time at sea, is required for operational and training purposes.
- Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
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 [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline and 3+ years professional experience; OR 6+ years professional experience in an IT administration or IT engineering role in lieu of a degree
- 1+ years of professional experience leading technical teams and/or projects
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
