Sr. Structural Engineer
Job description
About the role
The Launch Pad Development team is responsible for designing and building the ground infrastructure that supports the Starship program, and this role sits at the center of that effort. As a Sr. Structural Engineer you will help design and activate a second orbital launch site for the Starship rocket, working across the full lifecycle of civil and structural infrastructure projects from initial concept and feasibility through detailed design, construction, and final commissioning. You will design the pads, towers, and structural systems that carry the loads of one of the most powerful launch vehicles ever built, and you will take those designs into physical reality in concrete and steel. Building a launch site is unlike standard construction: the loads are severe, the schedule is compressed, and the site continues to evolve while the fleet itself keeps flying. Engineers in this role work between the drawing and the field, validating assumptions against the ground truth of the build and resolving real conflicts as construction proceeds. The work rewards people who can move fast with confidence and understand that a structural package is only as good as the build that follows it. On any given day you may find yourself reviewing a foundation layout, working a steel connection detail with a fabricator, coordinating an infrastructure input with the wider team, or standing on site during a major concrete pour. The pad must reach launch readiness on schedule and to code, with no structural surprises left for the phase where the big vehicle stands on it.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Lead project teams, contractors, and consultants through every phase of structural and civil engineering, from scope through close-out.
- Produce design documentation, technical reports, and drawings for industrial and aerospace facilities.
- Calculate structural designs for concrete and steel components, sizing each member accurately for the loads it carries.
- Negotiate and manage construction contracts with subcontractors from award through to a clean project completion.
- Conduct on-site engineering inspections and resolve construction conflicts in real time.
- Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, and site-wide infrastructure so the structure integrates with the whole pad.
- Incorporate geotechnical, surveying, and environmental inputs into the design so engineering assumptions match real site conditions.
Requirements
- Bachelor degree in structural engineering, civil engineering, or a related engineering field.
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in construction, drafting, analysis, and design.
- Ability to work on-site at Starbase, Texas, including extended hours and weekends.
- Physical ability to work at heights up to 500 feet, in confined spaces, and in a range of weather conditions.
- Must meet ITAR requirements as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.
Nice to have
- Professional Engineering (PE) or Structural Engineering (SE) license, and the judgment that comes with stamping design.
- Working command of AISC, ACI 318, ASCE 7, and the International Building Codes.
- Skill in AutoCAD, Revit, NX, or Solidworks.
- Experience with SAP 2000, STAAD Pro, RISA-3D, or ETABS analysis tools.
- Working knowledge of how electrical, piping, geotechnical, and surveying disciplines interact with the structure.
Skills & tools
- Civil and structural design and analysis
- Construction contract management
- Data-driven decision making
- Field engineering and inspection
Practical notes
- Physical requirements include 6 hours standing, 10 hours walking, and 10 hours climbing ladders or stairs per day.
- Must be able to wear personal protective equipment and air-purifying respirators.
- A pre-hire physical or medical history review may be required for the assignment.
About the company
Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.