OT Systems Engineer, Mission Systems Verified today

OT Systems Engineer, Mission Systems

SpaceX is seeking an OT Systems Engineer to implement and support backend infrastructure for next-generation controls and industrial software platforms critical to launch, manufacturing, and operations. You will work within the mission IT organization, supporting controls engineering teams while leveraging IT expertise, tooling, and technologies. This role balances support of legacy systems with modernization and continuous improvement initiatives.

What You'll Do

• Design, deploy, and augment next-generation OT environments supporting plant and launch systems across multiple sites.
• Install, configure, maintain, and support industry-standard controls software platforms and internally developed HMIs.
• Integrate IT technologies to improve security, simplify management, and create scalable plant environments.
• Deploy and maintain development, test, and staging environments to enable controlled change introduction.
• Provide direct support during launch, test, and production campaigns.
• Perform systems and software upgrades and maintenance between critical operations, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Monitor services proactively and respond rapidly to incidents to maintain high availability.
• Contribute to infrastructure-as-code and DevOps initiatives focused on ICS environments using automation tools.
• Work with controls engineers to iterate on simulation and emulation environments to enhance test coverage and change control processes.
• Write and maintain standards, architectures, best practices, and documentation including system overviews, design drawings, and operational procedures for reliable and secure industrial environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (IT, security, controls, operations) and external customers and integrators to design robust OT architectures.
• Ensure OT systems comply with industry and cybersecurity standards such as Purdue Model and IEC 62443.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or other STEM discipline and 3+ years of professional experience in OT systems engineering or industrial control systems administration; OR 5+ years of professional experience in OT systems engineering or industrial control systems administration in lieu of a degree.
• Hands-on experience with multiple industry-standard controls software platforms and tools.
• Significant experience designing, deploying, supporting, and troubleshooting OT environments in high-reliability settings.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience supporting real-time systems, industrial control networks, or OT environments in aerospace, defense, energy, or similar high-reliability industries.
• Experience designing architectures incorporating hyperconverged, rugged industrial edge, and distributed compute technologies.
• Working knowledge of industrial protocols, controls networks, and OT cybersecurity best practices.
• Proficiency in scripting (Bash, PowerShell, Python) and automation frameworks (Puppet, Terraform, Ansible).
• Experience with configuration management, provisioning, infrastructure as code, and DevOps concepts and tools.
• Familiarity with Active Directory, multi-platform authentication, and identity environments in OT contexts.
• System administration experience managing Windows and Linux servers, database administration exposure, and storage and backup experience.
• Network administration experience and understanding of the OSI model, particularly Layer 1/2/3 considerations for industrial and controls networks.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to interact with internal and external customers, vendors, and management.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to pass DoD background check for launch site access.
• Willingness to participate in after-hours on-call rotation and work extended hours or weekends as necessary.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%, including flying to other sites worldwide and potential time at sea supporting marine systems.
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Ability to work at heights.
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.