Six Figure Work

Principal Construction Engineer

SpaceX

Company websitespacex.com (SpaceX, opens in new tab)

Base salary $180K  to $275K

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Hawthorne, CA

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  • LocationHawthorne, CA
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (3 h ago) · observed since

About this job

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 [email protected]. 

Source: SpaceX on Greenhouse · View original posting (opens in new tab)

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($180,000) is above 75% of the 624 Business Operations roles in California listed on this site; 17 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $145,000; the middle half runs from $125,000 to $176,600.

Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 6, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live SpaceX roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live SpaceX roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Principal Construction Engineer (this listing)$180K - $275K
Principal Operations Engineer (Application Software)$180K - $275K
Sr. Security Software Engineer (Starlink)$180K - $280K
Sr. Product Security Engineer (Starlink)$180K - $280K
Sr. Embedded Security Engineer (Starlink)$180K - $280K
Principal Optical Network Engineer (Starlink Ground Network)$180K - $260K
Sr. RF Front-End Module Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering)$175K - $280K

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All SpaceX roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
  2. First observed on the employer's board
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-10-30
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Hawthorne, CA

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

Method
Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.