Mission Integration Engineer, Space Operations

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.

MISSION INTEGRATION ENGINEER, SPACE OPERATIONS 

This multi-disciplinary role enables you to be a key member of our mission management, spacecraft operations, and training team. As a member of our Mission Management team, you will serve as a core point of contact for customers from early capabilities studies through successful launch and on-orbit operations. You’ll support new business proposals from initial requirements verification through mission design, prototype development, and testing. You would work within a team of other Mission Integration Engineers and Mission Managers, on the same program and across related efforts, to ensure total alignment of your work. You would also work closely with disciplines across SpaceX, such as vehicle engineering, software, flight reliability, payload integration, and launch operations, to ensure safe and successful mission completion. 

You will also be empowered to develop next-generation spacecraft ground systems, as well as to prepare humans to safely operate vehicles in orbit. Through this responsibility, you will personally drive the system architecture, human workflow, curriculum, and training of operators, swiftly bringing forth the future of a rich space ecosystem.  If you are driven to fly spacecraft, train others to fly spacecraft, and have a passion for streamlining operations, then come join us in our work to ensure safe and sustainable spacecraft operations. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Support all phases of the program from development, initial proposal, through successful test, flight, and on-orbit operations. This will include educating the customer on our designs and methodologies. 
• Serve as the customer interface at meetings, tests, and reviews to development plans and gain acceptance of SpaceX’s technical approach. 
• Understand, develop, and summarize technical content on complex designs, trade studies, risks, and issues for internal, customer, and executive audiences
• Relentlessly and creatively drive process improvements that help SpaceX and the Mission Management team serve our customers well (meet contract obligations, fly safely and reliably, and more)
• Ensure contract deliverables are completed on-time and per customer expectations, distill customer requirements into actionable development objectives.
• Drive innovative ground system architectures and leverage human factors engineering principles to design operator UI/UX screens, enabling a small team of operators to safely manage many space vehicles on orbit. 
• Challenge requirements, develop tooling, and reshape training workflows to create efficient operator training processes
• Create training content, develop training plans, and provide instruction to mission control operators
• Script, test, and deploy simulation software components to ensure a high-quality training experience
• Develop subject matter expertise and clearly communicate technical concepts to a wide audience
• Work closely with operations teams to innovate how humans interact with a diverse fleet of spacecraft 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's degree in a engineering discipline
• 2+ years of experience working in the aerospace industry
• 2+ years of technical project management and/or systems engineering experience
• Experience working with launch vehicles or spacecraft 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Master's degree in a technical discipline 
• Previous experience with spacecraft, aircraft, launch vehicle engineering or operations 
• Previous experience writing software in a professional environment 
• 1+ years of programming experience in Python or JavaScript
• 1+ years of experience providing technical training to an audience that must apply it in a critical environment or real-time operations experience on a system that has high consequence of failure (e.g. a pilot, flight or test engineer, spacecraft operator, high performance automotive, etc.)
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills
• Capacity to balance conflicting opinions and manage expectations between multiple teams and customers
• Able to quickly adapt and change course in a fast-paced environment
• Insatiable hunger for continuous improvement and self-motivated to challenge the status quo
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and deliver results across multiple parallel priorities
• Strong penchant for innovation in process improvement and system design
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Able to work extended hours and weekends when necessary to support proposal or critical project timelines
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol test
• Must be willing to travel (approximately 10%) to other SpaceX locations, as necessary

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:  

Pay Range:    
Mission Integration Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year. 
Mission Integration Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year.      

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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $15,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

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, stock options, 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.

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.