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Lead MEP Design Engineer

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CAJob$135–215K/yrPosted 2 days agoStill listed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$135–215K/yr
Location
Hawthorne, CA
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Professional Engineer LicenseBachelor's degree

Job overview

SpaceX is seeking a Lead MEP Design Engineer to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in designing, building, and activating infrastructure for orbital launch capability. The role spans civil and structural design, construction, and commissioning for aerospace, industrial, and commercial projects. It includes managing construction projects and contracts, conducting onsite inspections, and resolving field conflicts. The position is not remote or hybrid and may require relocation to the Hawthorne, California area.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

AccrualProject ManagementAutoCADSAPRevitProject Delivery3DCost ControlAISC Steel ManualACI Code 318ASCE 7International Building CodeStructural Analysis SoftwarePermitting ProcessesMechanical EngineeringElectrical EngineeringPipingGeotechnical EngineeringSurveyingEstimatingSchedulingContractor ManagementConceptual LayoutTrade StudiesDetailed Engineering DesignProposal DevelopmentConstruction SupervisionPunch ListsCommunicationStandingCrawlingStoopingLiftingForklift OperationScissor Lift OperationBoom Lift Operation

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Engineering5+ Years Engineering ExperienceProfessional Engineer LicenseU.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident or Refugee or Asylee or Eligible for AuthorizationAbility to Lift 30 Lbs

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
401(k) Match
Parental Leave
Paid Time Off

Full job description

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.

LEAD MEP DESIGN ENGINEER

As a member of the critical infrastructure team, you will help design, build, activate and maintain some of the world’s most technically advanced manufacturing facilities. You will be able to operate with autonomy to solve diverse and complex problems, excel at managing multiple projects at a time and work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. As a Lead MEP Design Engineer, you will lead a group of elite engineers across multiple disciplines to design, build, and activate infrastructure that will enable orbital launch capability for the largest rocket in the world.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead multi-disciplinary engineers and third party engineers of record throughout the entirety of the civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning process.

  • Perform both civil and structural design and analysis calculations for structural steel and concrete.

  • Develop and issue drawings, design documentation, calculations and reports for aerospace, industrial, and commercial type projects.

  • Write, negotiate, and manage construction contracts with subcontractors across multiple disciplines through contract close-out.

  • Manage the civil and structural aspects of construction projects.

  • Interact with contractors, fabricators, owners, and clients.

  • Provide direct onsite engineering inspections and field observations.

  • Resolve design and construction conflicts in the field in real time.

  • Provide technical engineering support/information to ensure construction/maintenance complies with all standards, codes, and specifications.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, or other engineering discipline.

  • 5+ years of professional experience as an engineer with a focus in design or build of structural infrastructure.

  • Professional Engineering (PE) license.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Knowledge of American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) steel manual, American Concrete Institute (ACI) code 318, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7, and International Building Code (IBC).

  • Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, or similar design software.

  • Experience with SAP 2000, STAAD Pro, RISA-3D, Etabs, or similar analysis software.

  • Knowledge of processes of governing permitting agencies such as building departments and/or environmental agencies.

  • Knowledge of other disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, piping, geotechnical, and surveying.

  • Experience with project management of major construction projects including estimating, cost control, schedule, and contractor management.

  • Experience with the following project delivery phases:

  • Conceptual layout and high level trade studies.

  • Detailed engineering design and development.

  • Request for proposals/quotes, contract issue.

  • Supervision of construction to completion.

  • Work punch lists and certificate of occupancy (CO) with building official.

  • Strong communication skills.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Hawthorne, CA area.

  • Position occasionally requires the ability to work extended hours and weekends when needed.

  • Ability to stand, crawl, stoop, and push or lift up to 30 lbs. unassisted.

  • Ability to operate forklifts, scissor lifts, and boom lifts when needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range: $135,000.00 - $215,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law. 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].

How this job compares

Set against the 5,114 open Civil Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 8, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$135–215K/yr
  • California median$120–175K/yr261 salary ranges
  • US median$91–141K/yr2,815 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $175K, is 19% above the California median midpoint ($147K) — in the middle half of Civil Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 305 open Civil Engineer jobs in California and 5,114 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience; Civil Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 6 years at the median (4,135 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 3,891 of the 5,114 open Civil Engineer jobs (76%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 8, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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