Job brief: Launch Engineer, Control & Flight Operations (Falcon Launch Ops)

What JoRoute checked · Checked by JoRoute

• Listed on SpaceX's own job board. JoRoute does not take listings from job ads or recruiters.
• First seen by JoRoute 2026-11-04 (4 days ago); last confirmed on the board 2026-11-08.
• The apply link opens boards.greenhouse.io, the address SpaceX's board gives for this job.
• No other listing with this title and place on this board in the last 90 days.
• No layoff notices (WARN) under this name in the state files JoRoute reads.

What the listing says · Employer's own words, not checked

• Pay: $100,000 to $160,000 a year
• Job type: Not stated
• Where: Vandenberg, CA
• Posted: 2026-10-28

What the job asks · Employer's own words, not checked

Level: Entry level. The posting asks for 1+ years of experience.

Must have

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, computer science, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience working with fluid, pressurized, or electrical systems
• Must be willing to work weekends and night shifts as launch manifest dictates
• Must be willing to travel to other launch sites in support of operational activities and launches; travel requirement is up to 15%
• Flight hardware typically is built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
• Comfort working in outdoor environments as required for system troubleshooting

Conditions

• You will serve as an on-console shift operator supporting launch and pad operations for all 3 Falcon launch complexes (SLC-4E, SLC-40, L-39A).
• Work as an on-console shift operator for all launch operations and preparations for launch operations, including refurbishment of the pad systems in preps for launch
• Support 24/7 operations by alternating between day shift and night shift
• You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

Main duties

• Work as an on-console shift operator for all launch operations and preparations for launch operations, including refurbishment of the pad systems in preps fo…
• Develop and maintain automation (via SpaceX Ground Software) that runs as the backbone of launch operations. This automation is constantly being updated to i…
• Work with technicians in the field via radio comms to accomplish operations and troubleshoot faulty hardware/data
• Train and acquire requisite knowledge and skills to qualify as a copilot and pilot controller to perform the day-of-launch operations
• Apply multidisciplinary, first principles engineering to understand, communicate, and resolve real-time issues for any subsystem on the pad, rocket, or autom…

Lines copied from the posting, not rewritten. "Preferred" or "nice to have" items are not listed as must-haves.

How it compares · Compared by JoRoute from listings

• Typical listed pay for engineer jobs across the U.S.: $140k a year (3,314 listings, 148 employers). This listing is 7% lower.
• Across SpaceX's 2,900 open listings, 60% of those with a posting date were first posted more than 60 days ago. How SpaceX hires

What nobody outside the employer knows · Not known

• Whether the role is already filled or on hold: employers often leave listings up.
• How many people applied, and who reads the applications.
• Where in the published range an offer would land.

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