SpaceX leadership roles widen after xAI merger and IPO

Elon Musk’s senior team at SpaceX has taken on broader duties after the company absorbed xAI and went public, Fortune reported. The shift matters because several longtime rocket and satellite executives now help run a company that combines launch services, Starlink and artificial intelligence.

Fortune reported that Musk folded xAI into SpaceX in February 2026 through an all-stock deal. CNBC reported that the transaction created a $1.25 trillion private company before SpaceX sold shares to the public.

The leadership changes came with added governance pressure, Fortune reported. A longtime general counsel retired without a named replacement, while a new board formed before the IPO added two new members to meet public-market expectations, according to the New York Times.

Musk and Shotwell remain central

Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, remains cofounder, CEO, chairman and chief technical officer, Fortune reported. Fortune also cited comments by President and COO Gwynne Shotwell at Stanford that Musk sets the company’s direction while the broader organization carries it out.

Shotwell, recruited in 2002 as SpaceX’s 11th employee, became president in 2008 after helping secure a key NASA contract, Fortune reported. CNBC reported that she oversees a workforce of 22,000, while Fortune reported that she now also has formal oversight of xAI operations after the merger.

Bret Johnsen, SpaceX’s CFO since 2011, also took over xAI financial operations in February 2026, Fortune reported. Fortune previously reported that Musk hired Johnsen with a future public offering in mind after Johnsen held senior finance roles at Broadcom and Mindspeed Technologies.

Engineering chiefs span rockets, satellites and reliability

Mark Juncosa, who joined SpaceX in 2005, serves as vice president of vehicle engineering, according to The Org and SignalHire. Fortune reported that his portfolio covers Starlink satellites, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, and that he is closely tied to daily operations at Starbase in Texas.

William Gerstenmaier, a former NASA human spaceflight leader, is vice president of build and flight reliability, CNBC and the Karman Project reported. CNBC reported that he joined SpaceX as a consultant in 2020 before moving into a vice president role in 2021.

SpaceX’s Starship work is split among several senior leaders, according to Fortune and LinkedIn profiles. Bill Riley is vice president of Starship engineering, Joe Petrzelka’s profile lists him as vice president of booster engineering, and Phil Alden is vice president of Starship production after earlier leading Starlink production.

Jacob McKenzie has served as vice president of Raptor since July 2022, according to LinkedIn. Fortune reported that he oversees the engine program tied to Starship’s propulsion system.

Operations and commercial leaders carry wider briefs

Brian Bjelde, one of SpaceX’s earliest employees, remains listed on LinkedIn with an active SpaceX role while also holding HR and operations leadership roles at xAI and X, Fortune and Bloomberg reported. Fortune previously reported that Bjelde joined the Department of Government Efficiency in January 2025 as a senior adviser in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Tim Hughes, SpaceX’s senior vice president for global business and government affairs, joined the company in 2005 as its first general counsel, according to Georgetown University. Vietnam News reported that he met Vietnam’s prime minister in 2024 to discuss Starlink, and E&E News reported that he met EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in 2025.

Other senior executives include Kiko Dontchev, vice president of launch; Jon Edwards, senior vice president of Falcon and Dragon; Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of Starlink commercial sales and private astronaut recruitment; and Derek Turner, vice president of production, according to Fortune, LinkedIn, The Org and university biographies.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.