Operations Engineer, Starbase Infrastructure

SpaceX is developing the technologies needed to enable human life on Mars. The Operations Engineer for Starbase Infrastructure will standardize work processes across site power, HVAC, facilities, production fluids, industrial gas, water, and wastewater shops, ensuring consistent work orders, preventive maintenance, and closeout procedures.

Responsibilities

• Standardize how work is requested, planned, executed, and closed across all infrastructure shops, establishing a single work order/preventive maintenance/estimate/closeout standard with documented exceptions for specific systems (e.g., MV electrical, TCEQ water, cryogenic gas).
• Adopt company and site standards (Warp, Foundation, LOTO, MOC, commissioning turnover) and integrate processes from other SpaceX plants where appropriate.
• Choose the appropriate lever—software/AI/data, a physical/tooling change, or a personnel skill/behavior standard—and explicitly justify the selection for each problem.
• Define and improve the work‑management system (Warp/Foundation work orders, PM and PdM backlog, kitting, as‑found/as‑left closeout, critical spares) and write work orders to support initiatives; supervisors and engineers own daily work‑order writing and planning releases.
• Provide shops with visibility to staff against: time estimates vs. actuals, remaining hours, and jobs blocking a customer.
• Own commissioning and operational‑readiness for new or modified systems, including punch lists, first PMs, mBOM/spare setup, procedures, and trained turnover to operations.
• Translate design packages (one‑lines, P&IDs, vendor submittals, construction RFPs) into isolation plans, LOTO, work instructions, and hold points for floor execution.
• Establish asset identity for informal equipment: define what it is, its feeds, its PM schedule, and where its work order resides.
• Quantify shop performance: availability, PM compliance, work‑order aging, estimate accuracy, contractor vs. in‑house mix; brief supervisors and site leadership.
• Write and teach shop procedures so that leads and technicians can run the process independently, including cases that remain intentionally unique.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of professional experience in industrial plant, central plant, utilities, facilities, power generation, process operations, or maintenance engineering.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 2+ years in a process plant, municipal or industrial utility, semiconductor or data‑center facilities, shipyard, or similar 24/7 plant.
• Hands‑on work‑management experience with Warp, Foundation, Maximo, SAP PM, or equivalent CMMS; ability to write and close work orders to support initiatives.
• Experience reading P&IDs, electrical one‑lines, and OEM manuals, and writing procedures that technicians can follow on night shift.
• Experience commissioning or standing up operational‑readiness of new equipment (punch list through first PMs and spare setup).
• Working knowledge of LOTO, MOC, confined space, and energized/pressurized systems.
• Familiarity with at least two of the following: medium‑voltage or industrial electrical; HVAC/BMS; industrial gas or compressed air; water/wastewater; rotating equipment.
• Exposure to TCEQ public water/wastewater or similar permitted‑plant regulations.
• Practical use of SQL, Power BI, scripting, or AI to automate clerical work in work orders, PMs, and reports, with judgment to apply technician skills when appropriate.
• Experience overseeing contractors and vendors on a live industrial site.
• Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, interacting frequently with technicians, engineers, and leadership.
• Internships, clubs, or other hands‑on extracurricular activities are considered qualifying experience.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed.
• Must be able to work in extreme outdoor environments (heat, cold, wind, rain).
• Must be able to lift 25 lb unassisted, climb ladders, and walk the plants and shops you support.
• Position is based in Starbase, TX (Brownsville / Boca Chica) and requires onsite presence; remote work is not considered.
• Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites as needed (up to 15%).

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, an asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.