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Principal Operations Engineer (Application Software)

SpaceX· Application Software
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Hawthorne, CA$180k - $275kfull-timePosted 1w ago

About the role

Principal Operations Engineer for ASW responsible for growth strategy, planning, site activation, and cross-functional program management to scale Application Software as SpaceX increases launch rate, complexity, and sites. Combines strategic input with hands-on execution across software and hardware builds, site operations, and governance.

Responsibilities

  • Run the Application Software (ASW) operating cadence with the director and leadership team: weekly/monthly rhythm, decision log, and the staff plan that matches company demand to teams
  • Own the ASW AOP (headcount, opex, capex, vendors) from bottoms-up inputs through Finance review, in-year change control, and AOP-vs-actuals
  • Own the M&A playbook and execute integrations: diligence on people, software, vendors, and data; day-1 / 30 / 100 cutover; keep vs. rewrite vs. retire; where acquired teams land
  • Own site activation for ASW: coverage model, local intake/support, hiring, a go-live plan aligned to first hardware, first shift, or first customer
  • Own compute and hardware capacity: CPU/GPU/storage forecast; server-rack layout, power, cooling, and floor space with IT/facilities
  • Redesign intake, prioritization, and SLAs so work enters ASW through one process — not a different path per team, site, or acquired org
  • Tackle nebulous, multi-org problems with no playbook yet; pull a future-looking ASW growth strategy (org, sites, platforms, compute) out of ambiguity and drive it to a decision
  • Get hands-on where it unblocks the plan: write software, land an integration, rack and cable hardware, bring up a server row, or join a site/hardware build until it is actually live
  • Lead a team of 2-3 engineers/analysts; hold a short metric set and use it to change behavior

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related technical field
  • 7+ years of experience or education in management science and engineering, operations engineering, operations research, industrial engineering, or equivalent quantitative operations work
  • 5+ years of experience in operations, strategy, program management, or technical leadership in a high-rate engineering or software environment

Skills

Required:Executive stakeholder managementAOP / budgetingProgram management
Nice to have:Scripting / software contribution

Benefits

  • comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • short and long-term disability insurance
  • life insurance
  • paid parental leave
  • 3 weeks of paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays per year
  • paid sick leave per company policy
  • various discounts and perks
  • stock or long-term incentives and potential discretionary bonuses
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About SpaceX

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