Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship)

Starbase, TXPosted 3 days ago

Role Overview

SpaceX is hiring a Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship). This is a full-time role in Starbase. Part of SpaceX's Lifecycle hiring, posted 3 days ago. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.

Salary Context

Salary is not disclosed in this posting. Market median for Principal-level Lifecycle roles is $185k-$266k (based on 41 comparable listings). Many employers share specifics during the interview process or after an initial screen.

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ORComplianceSpaceXTodayMarsPRINCIPALMECHANICALENGINEER

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 MECHANICAL ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design and development: Lead the conceptual and detailed design of mechanical systems and components for Starship, including structures, mechanisms, and vehicle hardware, ensuring they meet performance, reliability, and mass targets
Continuous improvement: Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in mechanical designs, manufacturing methods, and integration processes to enhance vehicle capability and production efficiency
Product testing: Plan and conduct testing and validation of new mechanical designs, hardware, and modifications to verify compliance with safety, performance, and environmental requirements.
Technical support: Provide technical expertise and guidance to cross-functional teams on mechanical system design, integration, and operation throughout the vehicle lifecycle
Project management: Lead or contribute to mechanical engineering projects from concept through qualification and flight, ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and technical objectives
Compliance and standards: Stay informed about aerospace industry standards, codes, and regulations, and ensure that designs and hardware comply with relevant requirements
Documentation: Prepare technical reports, specifications, drawings, and documentation related to design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing activities

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in engineering and 8+ years of professional experience
7+ years of experience leading teams to produce engineering products

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or relevant engineering discipline
Professional experience working with launch vehicles, space vehicles, command and control systems, and/or ground/space sensor systems
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with direct experience negotiating technical deliverables or scope
Significant experience leading cross-functional teams and working with external customers and systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) representatives
Significant experience leading and performing quantitative system of systems architecture trades and development
Experience working with government or commercial spacecraft entities
Highly detail oriented, diligent, and hardworking
Passion for advancing the commercial space industry
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be available to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical milestones or operations shifts
Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX offices and customer locations as needed, up to 25%

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.

About SpaceX

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship) position at SpaceX?

Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to SpaceX. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.

Where is the Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship) position at SpaceX located?

This position is based in Starbase. SpaceX has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.

What does a Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship) at SpaceX earn?

SpaceX has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.

When was the Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship) role at SpaceX posted?

This role was posted on July 20, 2026 (3 days ago). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.