Sr. Electrical Design Engineer (PE)

SpaceX • Starbase, TX, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

SpaceX is seeking a licensed Professional Engineer to own utility-scale power projects at its Starbase launch facilities in Texas. The role provides technical leadership and review for transmission and generation infrastructure, including transmission lines, substations, switchyards, generation facilities, and grid interconnections. The engineer advises internal teams, engineering firms, and EPC contractors to ensure designs are constructible, compliant, and ready to meet site schedules.

The role spans project development from concept and studies through detailed design, procurement support, construction, commissioning, and turnover. It includes establishing standardized design criteria and documentation, assessing design and schedule readiness, resolving cross-discipline technical issues, coordinating with utilities and authorities, and maintaining technical standards informed by construction and commissioning experience. The position is not remote or hybrid and requires relocation to the Brownsville, Texas area if not already local. Occasional extended hours or weekend work and travel to domestic locations—and internationally if required—may be necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or another engineering discipline.
• Active Professional Engineer (P.E.) license and ability to stamp and certify electrical plans.
• At least 8 years of experience in electric utility engineering, including technical leadership of design, specification development, and permitting or interconnection.
• U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations, to satisfy ITAR requirements.
• Willingness to relocate to the Starbase, Texas area if not already local.
• Ability to travel to locations including Louisiana, Florida, California, and Texas, and internationally if required.
• Ability to work extended hours or weekends occasionally when needed.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive hands-on experience on large EPC builds of both electrical transmission and electrical generation, at a scale comparable to multi-mile transmission, transmission-voltage substations, and utility-scale generation.
• Experience taking transmission and generation projects through detailed design, equipment specification and procurement support, construction support, and commissioning.
• Manager-level experience, such as design manager, engineering manager, or project engineering manager, at an engineering or EPC firm engaged by electric utilities or independent power producers to design and build large-scale transmission and generation systems.
• Direct responsibility for transmission at 69 kV and above, including line design and air-insulated and/or gas-insulated substation or switchyard design.
• Direct responsibility for utility-scale generation and balance of plant, including simple-cycle or combined-cycle gas plants or other large generation, and transmission-system interconnection.
• ERCOT and MISO interconnection experience and familiarity with Texas and Louisiana coastal conditions, including high wind, corrosion, and flooding.
• Depth in protection and controls, grounding, and substation physical and electrical design, in addition to project leadership.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, PLS-CADD or an equivalent line-design package, substation physical design tools, ETAP, SKM, ASPEN or similar study software, and document management systems.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguous, high-tempo situations and make decisions with incomplete information while maintaining rigorous technical standards.
• Passion for space exploration.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical owner and reviewer for transmission and generation design packages, including plans, specifications, and construction documents, and confirm they are ready for procurement and construction.
• Direct large EPC efforts for high-voltage transmission lines, structures and rights-of-way; transmission substations and switchyards; and generation facilities, including plant, balance of plant, and grid interconnection, from concept through commissioning.
• Develop standardized design criteria, specifications, drawing templates, and review checklists to support consistent, constructible, code-compliant documents.
• Advise project managers and leadership on design maturity, long-lead equipment, permitting, constructibility, construction sequencing, and schedule risks.
• Own the construction-phase technical interface by responding to RFIs, dispositioning field changes, directing contractors and vendors on technical issues, and supporting commissioning through turnover.
• Interface with electric utilities, transmission providers, ERCOT processes as applicable, and authorities having jurisdiction regarding interconnection, routing, permitting, and compliance.
• Resolve technical issues across civil, structural, electrical, protection and controls, and mechanical disciplines, promoting designs that are safe, reliable, and fast to build.
• Stay current on NESC, NEC, IEEE, NFPA, and Texas utility practice; incorporate construction and commissioning lessons into standards; mentor engineers; and hold consultants and contractors to the same technical standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior