Meteorologist (Launch Operations)

METEOROLOGIST (LAUNCH OPERATIONS)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as Launch Weather Officer (LWO) for orbital launch, return-to-launch-site, re-entry, recovery, and test operations—owning weather workflows from forecast, balloon, and sensor data through countdown, launch commit criteria, contingency response, and post-flight data review
• Develop new decision-support forecast tools, integrate probabilistic forecast information into operator tools, and train operators and end-users of forecasts
• Improve launch availability by developing new weather tools, improving launch commit criteria, and coordination with SpaceX launch operations and the external weather stakeholders that support launch and re-entry operations
• Lead projects on weather-sensor architecture, numerical weather prediction tools, launch commit criteria, including NASA LLCCs, and marine/recovery weather
• Generate rocket launch, landing, and recovery forecasts against vehicle constraints, NASA Lightning Launch Commit Criteria (NASA-STD-4010), and 14 CFR Part 450 weather requirements
• Conduct numerical weather prediction analysis and testing; interpret model guidance (NBM, GFS, RRFS, CMC, ECMWF, GraphCast, HAFS, and other AI and ensemble variants) against measured conditions and communicate results to launch/flight control, pad operations, recovery, and leadership
• Drive requirements, procurement, calibration, installation, quality control, and operational use of mesonets, electric-field mills, radar, weather balloons, and related instrumentation
• Integrate the weather sensor suite and gridded model data into automation, dashboards, and decision-support tools
• Collaborate closely with peers, operators, Range, Recovery, Flight Safety, and external stakeholders to ensure reliable launch-weather support and drive initiatives that support Starship launch-rate growth
• Support Dragon undock, re-entry, and splashdown weather, and marine forecasts for Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific recovery and vessel operations
• Provide nowcasts and alerts for hazardous weather including severe thunderstorms, lightning, tropical cyclones, flooding, marine, and heat risks
• Represent SpaceX with NASA, United States Space Force range weather organizations, National Weather Service, and other core partners
• Interface with NASA Lightning Advisory Panel, FAA Common Standards Working Group, and other university research to operations groups to drive improvement in LLCC constraints for all launch and re-entry vehicles
• Travel to and operate from Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, Starbase, Hawthorne, and other launch/test/development sites as missions and projects require

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, or other nature science discipline
• 3+ years of professional experience in operational forecasting, launch/range weather, numerical weather prediction, or weather decision support

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience as a Launch Weather Officer, range weather officer, or equivalent for orbital launch, aviation, or marine weather operations
• Experience presenting impact-based decision support forecasting to executive leadership and/or key decision-makers in operations
• Demonstrated experience communicating high-risk weather impacts on operations to executive leadership and key decision-makers; includes hurricanes, severe weather, launch forecasting, flooding, and other Impact-based Decision Support Services (IDSS) functions
• Combination of training and experience that has led to qualification as a forecaster by the National Weather Service or a U.S. or NATO military authority
• Familiarity with NASA Lightning Launch Commit Criteria (NASA-STD-4010) and 14 CFR Part 450 weather constraints
• Experience with weather sensors (mesonets, electric-field mills, radar, weather balloons) from requirements through procurement, installation, calibration, and operational use
• Experience conducting model and forecast verification and familiarity with probabilistic modeling techniques
• Familiarity with Linux, Python, JavaScript, InfluxDB, Grafana, or similar tools, and the ability to integrate gridded model data into weather communication tools
• AI-assisted programming or scripting associated with weather-sensor integration and automation
• Marine forecasting experience, including routing or recovery decision support
• Background coordinating multi-vehicle or multi-site operations (orbital launch, RTLS, droneship or marine recovery, crew/cargo re-entry, or test flights) in a high-tempo environment
• Experience writing procedures, training, and briefings for operators and external stakeholders; comfort owning documentation and process reliability
• Experience building training or qualification programs for operations personnel
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Strong communication, emotional intelligence, and patience when negotiating difficult outcomes with partners under schedule pressure
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills with comfort changing roles rapidly in a high-paced environment
• Development and maintaining training, qualification, and onboarding programs for Launch Weather Officers and meteorology support, including off-nominal, severe-weather, and hurricane operations

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral
• Ability to work at elevated heights and/or in tight spaces as needed for sensor or balloon operations
• Must be willing to travel, including extended periods at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, Starbase, and other sites
• Must be available to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays when required by mission milestones