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Supervisor, Recovery Operations (West Coast Recovery) - 2nd Shift

Lead the West Coast Recovery Integration team at SpaceX, ensuring safe and efficient rocket operations on the second shift.

Location
Long Beach, CA, United States
Compensation
$115k–$155k/yr
Level
lead
Type
full time

Posted by employer 2 days ago

First seen on Joblaze 1 day ago

Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago

What you'll build

  • Supervise integration technicians
  • Recruit and manage a team of technicians
  • Ensure safety and quality in operations
  • Manage regulatory compliance and mission readiness
  • Schedule preventative maintenance

Must have

  • High school diploma or equivalency certificate
  • 2+ years of experience in technical hands-on capacity
  • 1+ years of prior leadership experience

Nice to have

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering
  • 5+ years of professional experience as a mechanic
  • 2+ years of experience managing 5+ employees
  • 3+ years of professional experience with rocket launch and recovery operations

Practical constraints

  • Ability to work Sunday - Thursday 2:00 pm - 1:00 am
  • Ability to pass Air Force background checks
  • Must be able to climb ladders and work in tight spaces
  • Willing to work in extreme outdoor environments

Requirements

Experience
2–5 years
Education
High school

Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement, visa sponsorship.

Benefits

401k Match Paid Vacation Paid Sick Leave Equity/Stock Options Paid Holidays Health Insurance Parental Leave

Joblaze summary

The Supervisor of Recovery Operations for SpaceX's West Coast team oversees the integration technicians responsible for processing Falcon 9 stage 1 vehicles and fairings post-launch. This role requires a strong technical background in mechanical systems, along with leadership experience to foster team development and ensure safety and efficiency in operations. Ideal candidates will have a hands-on technical background, preferably in rocket recovery, and a proven track record in managing teams. The position is critical for maintaining operational readiness and compliance in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed yesterday — first seen on Joblaze September 30, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page September 30, 2026.
  • Salary band is in line with the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$126,887).
  • Starts above 18% of 240 comparable lead other roles in United States we track (median $150,000 across 82 companies).

Quick facts

What's the salary range?
SpaceX lists $115,000–$155,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?
2–5 years of relevant experience for this Supervisor, Recovery Operations (West Coast Recovery) - 2nd Shift role.
What seniority level is this role?
SpaceX targets lead candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Supervisor, Recovery Operations (West Coast Recovery) - 2nd Shift role at SpaceX.

From the original posting

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.

SUPERVISOR, INTEGRATION (WEST COAST RECOVERY) - 2ND SHIFT

The West Coast Recovery Integration team is responsible for processing F9 stage 1 vehicles and fairings after launch and for safely returning the hardware to the launch site in Vandenberg, CA. We are looking for a positive, people-focused leader to drive a culture of excellence and accountability for our second-shift team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Supervise integration technicians so they can perform the rocket and fairing operations safely and reliably.
  • Recruit, assess, train, and manage a team of technicians. Develop Lead technicians and POCs to excel in leading T1 operations.
  • Interact with and develop each team member with a consistent and growth-oriented approach to career, skill, and leadership development.
  • Extreme Owner of safety, quality, schedule, and personnel matters to support Falcon 9 and fairing processing dockside in close collaboration with the offshore and engineering teams. This includes offloading, processing, and delivery of flight hardware back to the launch site at Vandenberg, as well as general dock/warehouse organization.
  • Management of regulatory/audit compliance, security, and mission readiness for the recovery integration technician team, RoRo vessel, and dock.
  • Schedule and perform preventative maintenance on all aspects of recovery ground support equipment and tooling.
  • Improve upon current recovery/processing methods; find ways to make it safer, cheaper, faster, more efficient, and more reliable.
  • Assist in the development of the site’s capabilities by collaborating with post-processing sites, East Coast recovery, and contracted vendors to develop the training and organization to grow the skills of the team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • High school diploma or equivalency certificate. 
  • 2+ years of experience working in a technical, hands-on capacity focused on testing and/or troubleshooting mechanical, fluid, and/or electrical systems.
  • 1+ years of prior leadership experience leading teams, projects, or people.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering.
  • 5+ years of professional experience as a mechanic or hands-on technician.
  • 2+ years of experience managing 5+ employees.
  • 3+ years of professional experience with rocket launch and recovery operations.
  • Professional experience within a testing environment, focused on setting test objectives, writing test plans, and hands-on testing.
  • Hands-on experience building, maintaining, and modifying equipment.
  • Prior experience as a Lead SpaceX technician and SpaceX technician

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
  • Ability to work on offshore vessels for extended duration without access to services normally available on shore.
  • Ability to operate heavy machinery.
  • Ability to support the following nominal shift:
    • Sunday - Thursday 2:00 pm - 1:00 am.
    • Shift pattern may change or rotate with other supervisors based on business needs.
  • Must be able to climb ladders and work in tight spaces.
  • Must be able 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.
  • Willing to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain, wind, open ocean.
  • Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise.
  • Must be able to travel for short and extended trips as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
$115,000.00 - $155,000.00

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.

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