SpaceX reassigns over 300 engineers to shore up its AI data center operations

SpaceX has moved more than 300 engineers from its rocket and Starlink divisions into its AI data center operations, a staffing surge that signals just how seriously the company is treating its computing infrastructure ambitions. The reassignment followed an internal call for volunteers that attracted over 1,300 applicants, roughly four times the number ultimately selected. The engineering influx is part of a broader management shakeup that began in late June 2026, when the company replaced data center team lead Dan Rowland with Wesley Salandro, a veteran of SpaceX’s rocket production operations. Fixing what fast growth broke SpaceXAI currently operates roughly 1.4 GW of computing capacity, with plans to push past 2 GW before the end of 2026. That attention, it turns out, was lacking during the initial build-out phase. The Memphis-area Colossus campus, SpaceXAI’s flagship facility, has faced persistent reliability challenges. Reports indicate that critical sites were operating without essential backup systems during the company’s most aggressive construction period. The newly assigned engineers are focused on three priorities: building redundancy into power and cooling systems, esta...