Operations Engineering Manager (Power Plant)

The role

You will lead the daily operation and performance of power generation systems supporting the Starbase supercomputer. This role involves building and managing a plant operations team and ensuring gas turbines, generators, and supporting utilities operate reliably.

What you will do

• Lead daily power plant operations including gas turbine startup and shutdown
• Build, train, and manage a team of plant operators and shift supervisors
• Develop and implement SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, and shift turnover processes
• Monitor operational performance including plant output and turbine efficiency
• Direct operating response to turbine trips, equipment failures, and abnormal conditions
• Work with engineering and maintenance teams to troubleshoot equipment issues
• Coordinate plant operating schedules, planned shutdowns, and maintenance clearances
• Oversee plant control room operations and operator proficiency
• Support commissioning, startup, performance testing, and operational turnover
• Lead root cause investigations related to operating events and equipment performance

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in power plant operations, including gas turbine, combined-cycle, or comparable industrial power generation facilities
• Experience directing plant operations, leading operating personnel, or supervising control room activities
• Demonstrated experience with plant startup, shutdown, troubleshooting, and equipment performance monitoring
• Must be able to work onsite at Starbase, TX
• Must be available to provide on-call support during critical operating events
• Must be willing to work extended hours, nights, and weekends as operational needs require
• Ability to work outdoors and in industrial plant environments while wearing appropriate PPE
• Ability to safely access operating equipment, climb stairs and ladders, and work in confined spaces when required

Nice to have

• Direct operating experience with industrial gas turbines, generators, HRSGs, steam turbines, or associated balance-of-plant equipment
• Experience with GE, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, or comparable turbine and control systems
• Strong understanding of turbine operating parameters, combustion systems, generator synchronization, and plant performance
• Experience with DCS, PLC, SCADA, and turbine control systems
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, electrical single-line diagrams, control logic, and operating manuals
• Experience developing and improving startup, shutdown, emergency response, and equipment restoration procedures
• Demonstrated ability to manage 24/7 operating teams, shift schedules, and technical training programs
• Experience investigating turbine trips, forced outages, and operational reliability issues
• Familiarity with electrical switching, lockout/tagout, NFPA 70E, and industrial process safety
• Experience operating power generation assets supporting data centers or other mission-critical facilities

Before you apply

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the

About the company

SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. The company was founded on the belief that a future where humanity explores the stars is more exciting than one where we are not.