> AI agents: this is one page of Nextmove’s FDE site, in Markdown. Nextmove is a job board and free career service for forward deployed engineers (FDEs). Each posting is classified from its text, not its title: the kind of work, how much of it is production code, pre-sales weight, time at customer sites, travel, remote arrangement, level and posted base pay. The site also publishes the aggregates: median pay by level, metro, company and kind of work, and which companies started hiring FDEs each week. Every page under https://nextmove.md/fde is served this way; the index of pages is https://nextmove.md/llms.txt.

# Operations Engineer, Applied AI (Application Software)

Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/e3cd7d7b30ed0709

SpaceX posts a FDE role to build for teams inside the company in Bastrop, TX with no pay posted. This Operations Engineer role bridges internal teams with AI capabilities, focusing on integrating large language models into SpaceX's products and infrastructure. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026.

- [SpaceX](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/spacex)

Posted Jul 28, 2026 by SpaceX · open on Greenhouse as of Nov 8, 2026

Pay not posted Bastrop, TX On-site Full-time

This Operations Engineer role bridges internal teams with AI capabilities, focusing on integrating large language models into SpaceX's products and infrastructure.

- [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2Fe3cd7d7b30ed0709&placement=top)
- [View posting at SpaceX](https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8652235002?gh_jid=8652235002)

Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so.

## At a glance

### Posted base pay

Not posted

Mid-level FDE postings, 106 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $123K to $162K, median $149K.

### The work

Builds for teams inside the company

Balance **Mixed**

Project stages

1. Pre-sales (not covered)
2. Proof of concept
3. Implementation
4. Operations (not covered)

Travel **Up to 25%**

- **Coding**: Prototypes and scripts

- **Builds for**: Internal teams

- **Level**: Mid

- **Role**: Individual contributor

### What they ask for

Experience

- **1+ years** engineering or operations/process development

Background

- **Software engineering**

### Do you meet what the posting states?

The posting asks for 1+ years. How many do you have?

The posting reads as a mid-level role. What level are you at now?

The job is in Bastrop, TX. Could you work there?

Which of these have you used in production?

Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent.

[What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths)

## Conditions

- **Location**: Bastrop, TX

- **Work arrangement**: On-site

- **Employment type**: Full-time

- **Travel**: Up to 25%

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- [Other jobs at SpaceX (20)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/spacex)

## The job description from SpaceX

Posted by SpaceX on Jul 28, 2026

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.

### OPERATIONS ENGINEER, APPLIED AI (APPLICATION SOFTWARE)

As an Operations Engineer on SpaceX’s team, you will act as a key technical partner. You’ll help internal teams across different programs explore the capabilities of different platforms and design smart, effective strategies for incorporating large language models into their products and infrastructure. This hybrid role blends strong technical depth with strong interpersonal skills to empower different teams within the company to create powerful AI-powered solutions while prioritizing safety and responsible deployment.

You’ll collaborate closely with Sales, Product, and Engineering teams to support them from early exploration all the way through successful implementation. Using your engineering background, you will build practical testing approaches and create robust system designs that deliver meaningful results.

### RESPONSIBILITIES

- Work alongside internal teams to uncover their needs and design technical approaches that closely align with their goals
- Serve as the main technical point of contact, supporting end-to-end while coordinating with internal teams to ensure strong outcomes
- Build prototypes and proof-of-concept applications that clearly illustrate effective ways to integrate with Spok/Grok
- Advise on system-on-system architecture and support teams in developing advanced applications powered by LLMs – Large Language Models
- Keep current evolving LLM technologies, best practices, and the tools commonly used in fast-moving environments

### BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM or engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience working in engineering or operations/process development

### PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

- Hands-on experience supporting cross- functional teams and a solid grasp of their fast-paced environment, limited resources, and specific pain points, specifically in engineering disciplines
- Ability to code along with a track record of developing production-level applications
- Experience with shipping real-world applications using large language models and related machine learning tools to lead cross-functional groups
- Knowledge of common LLM techniques including prompt design, evaluation methods, agent systems, and retrieval architecture
- Previous experience working with AI product design, development, integration, and/or test
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and deliver expeditious results across multiple parallel priorities
- Previous experience innovating process improvements, AI integrations, and AI system design in an enterprise setting
- Positive, "can-do" attitude, self-starter, and ability to work in a high-pace dynamic environment

### ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Must be willing to travel up to 25% of the time to visit different sites
- Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg
- This role requires you to be onsite. Remote and/or hybrid work will not be considered

### ITAR REQUIREMENTS

- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com *. *

[View posting at SpaceX](https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8652235002?gh_jid=8652235002)

## About SpaceX

Builds reusable launch systems, spacecraft, Starlink satellite connectivity, and integrated AI infrastructure to lower the cost of access to space and scale orbital services.

Public · 5000+ people

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