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$75.5K

$128.3K

$188K

How much do spacex design jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for spacex design in the United States is $128,257.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical challenges faced by designers working at SpaceX, and how can applicants prepare for them?

Designers at SpaceX frequently encounter challenges such as working within highly accelerated timelines, adapting to evolving project requirements, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. The environment is fast-paced and innovation-driven, requiring individuals to balance creativity with stringent engineering and safety constraints. Applicants can prepare by developing strong problem-solving skills, familiarity with aerospace standards, and experience in rapid prototyping or iterative design processes. Being adaptable and proactive in communication is also essential for success in this dynamic environment.

What is SpaceX Design?

SpaceX Design refers to the team and processes responsible for designing the visual and functional aspects of SpaceX's rockets, spacecraft, spacesuits, and related systems. This includes industrial design, user interface design, and the creation of ergonomic environments for astronauts and engineers. The goal of the SpaceX Design team is to ensure that all products are not only highly functional and safe but also intuitive and visually appealing. They work closely with engineers and technicians to bring innovative ideas from concept to reality.

Is it hard to get hired in SpaceX?

Getting hired as a SpaceX designer can be competitive due to the company's high standards and innovative projects. Candidates typically need relevant engineering or design experience, strong technical skills, and a background in aerospace or related fields. The hiring process often involves multiple interviews and assessments to evaluate technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a SpaceX Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a SpaceX Design Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or aerospace engineering, proficiency in CAD design, and a strong understanding of materials and manufacturing processes, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Expertise in technical tools like CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, and simulation software, as well as familiarity with GD&T and rapid prototyping, is commonly required. Exceptional problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration skills are vital for innovating and working effectively within cross-functional teams. These skills and qualities ensure the delivery of cutting-edge, reliable aerospace designs that meet rigorous technical and safety standards.

What is the difference between Spacex Design vs Aerospace Designer?

AspectSpacex DesignAerospace Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering or Design, relevant experienceBachelor's or Master's in Aerospace Engineering or Design
Work EnvironmentSpace industry, engineering teams, collaborative projectsAerospace industry, research labs, design teams
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily SpaceX, aerospace companies, defense contractorsAirlines, aerospace firms, government agencies

Spacex Design professionals focus on spacecraft and launch vehicle design within the space industry, often working directly for SpaceX. Aerospace Designers have a broader scope, working on aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems across various companies and agencies. While both roles require engineering or design credentials and involve collaborative work environments, Spacex Design is specialized in space launch systems, whereas Aerospace Designers may work on a wider range of aerospace projects.

How much do SpaceX PCB designers make?

SpaceX PCB designers typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience and location. They often work with CAD tools and require knowledge of electronics and manufacturing standards.

What's the highest paying job at SpaceX?

The highest paying job at SpaceX is typically executive-level roles such as Chief Engineer or Vice President, which can offer compensation exceeding several hundred thousand dollars annually, often including bonuses and stock options. These positions require extensive experience in aerospace engineering, management, and advanced technical skills. Compensation varies based on experience, responsibilities, and performance.

Who is the lead designer of SpaceX?

The lead designer of SpaceX is Elon Musk, who also serves as the company's CEO and founder. The role of lead designer involves overseeing spacecraft and rocket design, often requiring expertise in aerospace engineering and engineering management.
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Spacex Design jobs near you
Design Criteria Engineer (Starshield)

Design Criteria Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 144 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

13th of 60 rated aerospace companies

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.
DESIGN CRITERIA ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)
Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. On the Starshield Design Criteria Engineering team, you will ensure that our satellites achieve mission success with high reliability. This team draws from diverse engineering backgrounds to become deeply familiar with hardware from the vehicle system to individual components. These skills will be applied across the two roles we are hiring for:
  • As a design-focused member of this team, you will apply your technical expertise from initial conception of major design revisions and define the path through design maturation, validation, safe launch, and initial operation in orbit. This high-impact phase rewards creativity and innovation but demands foresight and mitigation of risks along the way.
  • As a change-focused member of this team, you will lead identifying and rolling out improvements to the design and processing of satellites, while sustaining our industry-leading design iteration and manufacturing cadence. You will be rewarded by seeing these systems acting in concert to materialize innovative ideas on real satellites flying in space.

In both roles, we are looking for passionate engineers with excellent technical fundamentals who thrive in fast-paced development environments to deliver rigorous improvements to the way we develop satellites.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Develop and own design criteria, requirements, and verification approaches for new satellite systems. Continuously improve these processes with stakeholder engagement.
  • Perform critical peer review of hardware designs during design reviews, and of acceptance and qualification test campaigns, and approve plans based on the strength of technical justification that hardware is ready for launch.
  • Guide engineers through the SpaceX design process and ensure design criteria/requirements are being followed for satellite design, manufacturing, and test activities.
  • Provide development input such as analysis or test recommendations on a wide range of engineering problems encompassing electrical, structural, and radio frequency systems.
  • Leverage involvement in broad spectrum of development efforts to be an expert resource for defining vehicle maturity status in key program reviews and communications.
  • Proactively identify development risks, then implement and track mitigation plans.
  • Develop and own long-term strategy to enable satellite and infrastructure changes, while providing daily engineering support and surge coverage for critical issues.
  • Leverage comprehensive expertise in the satellite system architecture to ensure vehicle-wide and atomic changes improve rather than degrade the satellite.
  • Review analysis and test validation approaches across a range of disciplines including electrical, mechanical, and radio frequency systems to build strong justifications for all changes.
  • Own configuration management for the satellites to ensure bill of materials accuracy for both as-designed and as-built configurations and all changes therein.
  • Provide critical input to ensure change implementation across the fleet of satellite variants is efficient and practical; ensure scope and impacts across design, manufacturing, supply chain, and test are identified and assigned; and follow-up to confirm thorough closure.
  • Serve as the primary expert for tracking and conveying history of all changes and other system-level considerations in key program reviews and investigations.
  • Develop specialized tools that enable design, analysis, and milestone tracking.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
  • 1+ years of experience in an engineering role (professional, project team, internship, or extracurricular experience all apply).

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Advanced degree in an engineering discipline.
  • 5+ years professional experience in an engineering role (design, analysis, test, or manufacturing).
  • Ability to be self-motivated in a demanding start-up atmosphere.
  • Experience with aircraft, launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems.
  • Experience with electrical or mechanical system design, analysis, testing, and fabrication for use in safety-critical or high-manufacturing-rate applications.
  • Experience with make versus buy decisions for system components.
  • Scripting and data analysis experience using Visual Basic, SQL, Matlab, Python, or Excel.
  • Experience in using or maintaining enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong organization, attention to detail, and thoroughness.
  • Must have an ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, OR ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance is desired but not required. An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing.
  • Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.
  • Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Design Criteria Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Design Criteria Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/per year
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. Those with an active TS/ SCI clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.
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, stock options, 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.

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