Air Separation Unit Operations Lead

As an air separation operations lead, you will own the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of SpaceX's air separation unit that produces the high-purity liquid oxygen required for Starship. This role is critical to achieving rapid launch cadence and supporting Starship's development at scale. You will lead operations teams, drive continuous improvement in plant performance, and help eliminate supply risk for one of the most propellant-intensive launch vehicles ever built. If you thrive in high-stakes industrial environments and want your work to directly enable humanity's multiplanetary future, this is the role for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead daily operations of air separation plants, including startup, shutdown, and steady-state production, targeting >98% availability within the first 12 months
• Hire and train an excellent engineering and operations team.
• Establish and improve operating procedures, alarm response plans, and troubleshooting for all air separation unit systems
• Partner with maintenance and design teams to reduce downtime and find the root cause
• Own operational safety and overall plant safety management
• Meet or exceed expected plant efficiency and output (distillation efficiency, power consumption, product purity)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2+ years of hands-on experience operating or directly supervising air separation units (ASU), large-scale industrial gas plants, or other commercial-scale process facilities
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrated experience leading teams in 24/7 industrial operations
• 5+ years of experience in air separation or cryogenic operations
• Strong working knowledge of cryogenic distillation, turboexpanders, centrifugal compressors, and molecular sieve systems
• Experience with data and control systems (Honeywell, Siemens, or Rockwell preferred)
• Track record of improving plant reliability and efficiency or reducing specific power consumption

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Hardware is typically built in tight quarters, and physical dexterity is required
• Work performed in an environment with exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Occasionally exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments (heat, cold, rain)
• Hours vary depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
• Stand: Up to 1 hour per day
• Sit: Up to 10 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to 50 lb (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 1 hour per day
• Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to 50 lb (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
• Kneel/Crouch: Up to 1 hour per day
• Upper body twist: Up to 1 hour per day
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees, up to 3 hours per day
• Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 200 ft), in confined spaces, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review.