Principal Construction Engineer

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-10-30

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.

PRINCIPAL CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER 

As a member of the HQ construction team, you will design, build, and activate some of the world’s most technically advanced manufacturing facilities. We execute complex construction projects and infrastructure improvements from cradle to grave. 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. You will work with other construction engineers, architects, trade partners and internal customers to support these goals and have the opportunity to drive real global impact, ultimately leading to making life multiplanetary. All SpaceX construction engineers serve additionally as project managers and supers – this is a construction management role per industry standards. The position is based in Hawthorne, CA.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee and own full lifecycle of projects with on-time and under-budget delivery
• Manage all aspects of multi-discipline construction projects in the field and office
• Be the overall construction project manager and extreme owner
• Perform project control tasks, including project scheduling and cost control
• Interact with contractors, fabricators, and internal customers
• Resolve design and construction conflicts in the field in real-time
• Provide budgetary costs based upon the preliminary scope of the project
• Gather proposals from architects, engineers and contractors; assign contracts upon receipt of all proposals
• Facilitate city, county, and governmental approvals
• Coordinate project implementation and track project status
• Coordinate with end user and facilities team for building operations and maintenance
• Develop tools and approach to supporting the space allocation and adjudication process across the enterprise
• Coordinate real estate planning and management functions as needed
• Take on new projects ad-hoc as the business needs

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, architecture, or construction management 
• 10+ years of construction experience  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional Engineer (PE) License
• Experience managing multiple vertical projects
• Knowledge of processes of jurisdictional permitting and/or environmental agencies
• Understanding of multiple disciplines such as civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, piping, geotechnical, and surveying
• Experience with project management of major construction projects including estimating, cost control, schedule, and contractor management
• Experience reading, reviewing, and approving shop and fabrication drawings, blueprints, and technical manuals
• Manufacturing facility experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work at elevated heights (200+ feet)
• Physical effort with lifting and carrying materials or equipment (up to 25 lbs.)
• Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends when needed based on site operational needs; flexibility required
• Valid driver’s license
• Occasional travel may be required to support projects at other sites

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 3: $180,000.00 - $275,000.00

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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Explore around this job

Field: Engineering, Construction and Energy Sub-niche: Construction and field engineering All jobs at SpaceX Jobs in California Jobs in Hawthorne, CA Hawthorne city guide California state guide Los Angeles County economy

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About the role

This is a — role in the Engineering, Construction and Energy field (Construction and field engineering) at SpaceX.

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How to prepare and behave

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The city

The job is in Hawthorne, CA. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Hawthorne compares. Among the 145 largest places in California, Hawthorne is #101 by population, #145 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #132 for household income (#1 = highest), #24 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Los Angeles County, is #7 of 58 counties for average pay ($83,554).

The place in numbers

Hawthorne has 85,191 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.2% of the population of California. It covers 6 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 13,996 people per square mile. The median age is 33.9, 11% younger than the state median (33.9 against 37.9).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,782 a month (rent plus utilities), 12% below the state median ($1,782 against $2,036). Over a year that is 28.2% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $863,400, which is 11.4 times the median household income ($75,848); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 27.2% of households own their home, 51% below the state average (27.2% against 55.9%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area has 6,271,560 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $55,850 a year, 10% above the national median ($55,850 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (702,480 jobs, median $52,710); food preparation and serving related (588,660 jobs, median $38,460); healthcare support (537,460 jobs, median $35,630). The area is most specialised in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (2.2 times) and healthcare support (1.7 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($136,490) and legal ($128,110). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Los Angeles County was 4.5%. 68.8% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Los Angeles County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 70.3% drive alone, 3.7% use public transit, 1.5% walk, 11.1% work from home. 18.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 3% below the state average (18.8% against 19.4%).

People and education

26.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 30% below the state share (26.0% against 37.1%). 32.1% of residents were born outside the United States, 19% above the state share (32.1% against 27.0%). The poverty rate is 15.5%, 29% above the state rate (15.5% against 12.0%).

Climate

The warmest month is Aug, averaging 75°F (23.9°C), and the coolest is Dec at 53°F (11.8°C). About 332 mm (13 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Feb is the wettest month (75 mm) and Jun the driest (1 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Inglewood (3 miles, similar rent); Torrance (6 miles, rent 28% higher); Compton (7 miles, rent 7% lower); Carson (8 miles, rent 10% higher). Rent differences are against Hawthorne; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Hawthorne →California guideAll jobs in Hawthorne

Official links for Hawthorne

• Official website of Hawthorne: cityofhawthorne.org
• Census Bureau data profile for Hawthorne
• Official website of Los Angeles County: lacounty.gov
• Official state website: ca.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: California

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Where to live

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Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Engineering, Construction and Energy, where your skills may carry over:

Energy and utilities (533) Manufacturing and hardware engineering (3179)

Distances

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The employer

SpaceX is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

We do not hold headcount or revenue for this employer. Check its careers site and, if it is listed on a stock exchange, its public filings (SEC EDGAR search).

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at SpaceX

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Construction and field engineering

More jobs in Hawthorne, CA

All Construction and field engineering jobs → · All Engineering, Construction and Energy sub-niches →

FAQ

What is the Principal Construction Engineer job at SpaceX?

A private-sector role in engineering, construction and energy (construction and field engineering) listed 10 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Hawthorne, CA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Hawthorne is $1,782 a month and median household income $75,848 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-10-30 (10 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse construction and field engineering jobs in California.

Sources and terms

• Job data: SpaceX careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-10-30). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)