Manager, Utilities Engineering and Operations (Starlink)

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel responsible for the reliable operation of sitewide utility infrastructure.
• Own end-to-end performance of major utility systems, including:
• Power generation and distribution (high-voltage switchgear, transformers, baseload and backup generation, grid elements, solar and other on-site power systems).
• Industrial water systems (raw water intake/treatment, process water, ultrapure/deionized water generation, cooling tower operations, and closed-loop hydronic systems).
• Wastewater collection, treatment, and discharge (industrial wastewater, process effluent, deluge water treatment, stormwater management, and compliance with environmental permits).
• Natural gas infrastructure (high-pressure supply lines, metering stations, regulators and safety systems)
• Drive strategic planning, capital project execution, and expansion of utility infrastructure to match aggressive manufacturing ramp-up schedules, including new system design reviews, commissioning, and integration with production facilities.
• Establish and continuously improve preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance programs to achieve world-class uptime and minimal unplanned downtime.
• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local environmental regulations, permitting requirements, and SpaceX internal standards.
• Manage operating budgets, utility cost forecasting, energy/water conservation initiatives, and vendor/service contracts.
• Partner closely with manufacturing, production engineering, environmental health & safety, and facilities project teams to anticipate utility demands, resolve issues rapidly, and support new production lines.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective actions for any utility-related incidents, near-misses, or reliability events; implement lessons learned across the site.
• Foster a culture of ownership, rapid iteration, and first-principles problem solving within the utilities team while maintaining rigorous safety standards in high-hazard industrial environments.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, or other engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in utilities engineering, operations, or maintenance with industrial facilities.
• 4+ years of direct people leadership experience managing engineers, operators, and technicians in 24/7 operational environments.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated hands-on experience with utility infrastructure and/or central utility plants in industrial environments.
• Proven track record leading utility system design, construction, commissioning, and ramp-up in fast-paced, high-growth industrial settings.
• Deep knowledge of industrial utility reliability best practices, including predictive maintenance technologies, SCADA/BMS systems, and automated monitoring/control platforms.
• Experience navigating complex environmental permitting and compliance for industrial wastewater, stormwater, and air emissions in regulated jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with high-reliability operations in mission-critical environments where downtime directly impacts production or safety (aerospace, semiconductor, or similar preferred).
• Strong project management skills with experience delivering multi-million-dollar utility capital projects on time and budget.
• Proficiency in reading/creating P&IDs, utility flow diagrams, single-line electrical drawings, and equipment specifications.
• Ability to thrive in a high-intensity, iterative environment with evolving priorities and aggressive timelines.