Supervisor, Recovery Operations (West Coast Recovery) - 2nd Shift
Long Beach · USD 115,000-155,000 · 1+ years experience · Posted Sep 29, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 1+ years experience
- Location
- Long Beach
- Salary
- USD 115,000-155,000 · Base salary
About the role
- 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.
- SpaceX is looking for a positive, people-focused leader to drive a culture of excellence and accountability for the 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, and 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.
- Take extreme ownership of safety, quality, schedule, and personnel matters to support Falcon 9 and fairing processing dockside in close collaboration with the offshore and engineering teams.
- Manage 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 to make them 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.
Requirements
- 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.
- 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 nominal shift from Sunday to Thursday, 2:00 pm - 1:00 am.
- Must be able to climb ladders, work in tight spaces, stand, kneel, crouch, twist upper body, work in cramped positions, climb hand over hand, and lift 25 lbs.
- Willing to work in extreme outdoor environments including heat, cold, rain, wind, and open ocean.
- Must be able to travel for short and extended trips as needed.
Preferred qualifications
- 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.
Benefits
- Long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards
- Potential discretionary bonuses
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Short and long-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- 3 weeks of paid vacation
- 10 or more paid holidays per year
