{"id":3417634,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops","title":"Recovery Engineer (Starship Range Ops)","company":{"id":66,"name":"SpaceX","domain":"spacex.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacex","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":85,"open_postings":53,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.396,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":78,"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Brownsville, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":60000,"max_usd":109000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":4343},"experience_years_min":1,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-28T19:41:03Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-28","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T17:21:44Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"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.\nRECOVERY ENGINEER (STARSHIP RANGE OPS) \nAs a Recovery Operations Engineer, you will focus on range management and mission readiness for vehicle recovery. In this role, you will develop new standard operating procedures for vehicle recovery and processing, build partnerships with airspace and maritime regulatory agencies to ensure clear communication, write test plans and procedures to improve recovery efficiency for future missions, and take full ownership to recover Super Heavy boosters and Starships safely and successfully. \nRESPONSIBILITIES: \nPerform engineering duties for SpaceX’s Starship Range and Recovery efforts \nLead a team of engineers and technicians performing offshore Starship Recovery operations \nPerform troubleshooting, upgrades, and system maintenance on hardware deployed on terrestrial, maritime, meteorological, and air assets, including mechanical, electrical, or control systems \nProvide on-console engineering support during launch and major ground test and launch operations \nIdentify areas of operational improvement, and work with design teams to develop and implement innovative new solutions to the range and recovery efforts \nDevelop work instructions to support ongoing operations, maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and vendor contracts \nProvide critical program information and interface with external parties/programs (FAA, USCG, etc.) to ensure compliance and alignment with the Starship program goals \nServe as the final authority to ensure all operations are conducted in a safe manner \nPerform other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment \nUse AI tools to develop and deploy program and process efficiencies for the team \nServe as a recovery and range controller for launch and re-entry operations \nBASIC QUALIFICATIONS: \nBachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, naval, marine, electrical, operations, or systems engineering \n1+ years of experience building, maintaining, and modifying mechanical or electrical hardware \nPREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: \nAbility to read, understand, and apply technical drawings, data reports, mechanical schematics, electrical schematics, and design specifications \nHigh levels of personal autonomy and self-driven motivation \nAbility to thrive in ambiguous requirements and aggressive timelines \nExperience troubleshooting and maintaining mechanical/electrical systems and associated control hardware \nExperience operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining large, complex mechanical or electrical systems \nTesting experience including setting test objectives, writing test plans, and executing hands-on testing \nStrong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment, accomplishing tasks with limited resources at a rapid pace \nDemonstrated history of working efficiently with hazardous systems (high pressure, high voltage, cryogenic, toxic, flammable, hypergolic, pyrophoric) \nDemonstrated experience of effective root cause and failure analysis \nAbility to read, understand, and apply technical drawings, data reports, mechanical schematics, electrical schematics, and design specifications \nExperience working and building hardware in an offshore and/or marine environment \nExperience interfacing with government and regulatory bodies \nExperience in drafting and reviewing legal agreements and processes \nExperience operating and troubleshooting remote-operated ground control systems \nExperience with critical operations where real-time decision-making affected success criteria \nExperience with launch, aviation, or maritime operational environment \nAble to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers \nAble to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment \nSelf-motivated and directed with keen attention to detail \nOngoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work \nDetail-oriented, organized, and demonstrate a high sense of urgency \nADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: \nAbility to support offshore operations and willing to work offshore for extended duration without access to emergency services normally available on shore \nAbility to climb ladders, work at height, and work in tight/confined spaces \nAbility to pass an Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral \nHardware is typically built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required \nWilling to work with hazardous materials \nAbility to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, climbing hand over hand, and lifting 25 lbs. \nWilling to work in extreme outdoor environments - heat, cold, rain, wind, open ocean \nHours vary depending on site operational needs; flexibility required \nMust be willing to travel \nAbility to operate heavy machinery \nAbility to pass offshore physical fitness testing if required \nPosition is subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing\nITAR REQUIREMENTS:\nTo 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. \nSpaceX 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.\nApplicants 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 .","description_format":"text","description_chars":6326,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":1,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Communications","Launch Services","Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-28T19:51:09Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":78,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:early","comp:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-01T18:38:40Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":28486,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":66},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=66"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fspacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fspacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fspacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/spacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspacex-recovery-engineer-starship-range-ops"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3417634}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"spacex.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3417634},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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