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.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
As a member of the Texas Construction Projects team, you will work with engineers across multiple disciplines in the design, procurement, and build of infrastructure at our rocket development and test facility. This position is based out of McGregor, TX.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead a project team of engineers, consultants, and contractors throughout the engineering, procurement, and construction process
- Manage the design, development, and issuance of drawings, documentation, and reports for aerospace, large commercial, or industrial-type facility and infrastructure projects
- Write, negotiate, and manage construction contracts with subcontractors across multiple disciplines from conceptual design through closeout and activation
- Lead and/or contribute to the design of HVAC systems for various facilities: office, large warehouse, rocket, and customer payload
- Use fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer knowledge as required to design tubing and piping systems
- Conduct research that tests and analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, and performance of equipment, components, and systems
- Recommend designs/modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions
- Develop and test models of alternate designs and processing methods to assess feasibility, operating condition effects, possible new applications, and necessity of modification
- Estimate costs and submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects, and prepare contract documents
- Resolve design and construction conflicts in the field in real time with multiple parties
- Prepare plans, details, specifications, and commercial bid documents for plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and general piping systems
- Review and evaluate the work of consultants, contractors, and other external parties
- Responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing various construction projects simultaneously
- Accountable for accurate budgeting and cost forecasting
- Oversee project schedule accuracy and milestone reporting to engineers, contractors, fabricators, and project stakeholders
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 2+ years of professional experience with the design and build of aerospace, large commercial, or industrial-type projects
- Experience with mechanical/process piping/HVAC system design and/or project execution
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years of construction experience with working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
- Direct field experience with day-to-day management on a construction site
- Experience in conceptual design and budgeting
- Experience in contract management for large capital projects
- Experience in managing the engineering, procurement, and construction process for aerospace or heavy industrial-type projects
- Experience with ASME B31.3 and B31.9 fluid systems
- Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Experience creating and implementing process/design solutions with minimal impact to business operations
- Able to quickly assess an issue and assist technicians with troubleshooting and repair
- Ability to work in a high-concentration, high-stress environment under possible extended work hours and tight deadlines
- Acute attention to detail and ability to see interactions with other systems to avoid problems
- Familiarity with National Electrical Code, ASHRAE, National Fire Protection Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and International Building Code
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Role may require extended hours, weekend work, and shift schedules that vary depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
- Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters, or at heights
- Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Remain focused while working in hazardous environments and wearing appropriate PPE
- Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted and stand and move for the majority of the day
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 [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline
- 2+ years professional experience with design and build of aerospace, large commercial, or industrial-type projects
- Experience with mechanical/process piping, HVAC system design, and/or project execution
- Ability to perform hands-on field work in varied environments, including heat, cold, rain, tight quarters, and at heights
- Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and variable shift schedules as needed
- Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted and stand/move for majority of the day
- ITAR eligibility: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required State Department authorizations
- 5+ years construction experience with working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
- Direct field experience with day-to-day management on a construction site
- Experience in conceptual design, budgeting, and contract management for large capital projects
- Experience managing engineering, procurement, and construction processes for aerospace or heavy industrial projects
- Experience with ASME B31.3 and B31.9 fluid systems
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and implementing process/design solutions with minimal operational impact
- Familiarity with National Electrical Code, ASHRAE, NFPA, ASME, and International Building Code
- Ability to quickly assess issues and assist technicians with troubleshooting and repair in high-stress environments
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
