Construction Project Manager, Critical Transport (Starship)

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.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER, CRITICAL TRANSPORT (STARSHIP)

As a member of the Starship Critical Lift and Transport Operations (CLT) team, you will collaborate with engineers and managers across multiple disciplines to plan and execute safety-critical transport of Starship flight hardware and infrastructure between production, test, and launch sites at Starbase and other SpaceX facilities. You will own end-to-end project execution, with primary emphasis on planning and performing complex heavy-haul and oversize moves that keep Starship production and launch cadence on schedule. This position is based in South Texas (Brownsville/Starbase) and requires frequent travel >50%.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct the team’s compliance with safety programs and maintain a strong safety culture across all active projects and field operations.
• Plan, write, and own transport plans for critical moves, including route selection, load configuration, securement, staging, and contingency actions.
• Write and manage engineering, transport, and construction contracts across multiple disciplines through project completion.
• Perform project control tasks including scheduling, budgeting, quality control, logistics, and operational coordination.
• Manage high-level coordination with engineering, production, launch, manufacturers, heavy-haul vendors, and internal stakeholders to resolve cross-functional issues and remove roadblocks.
• Interact with contractors, transporters, designers, fabricators, permitting agencies, and internal customers.
• Resolve route, access, and execution conflicts in real time in the field.
• Lead and develop a team of construction and transport personnel responsible for critical moves and supporting infrastructure across multiple SpaceX facilities and locations.
• Oversee and own the full lifecycle of transport projects to achieve on-time and under-budget delivery with customer satisfaction. The following project management responsibilities apply:
• Mentor team members on field execution, contractor management, and problem-solving in a fast-paced operations environment.
• Drive accountability for on-time and on-budget delivery from origin to set-down, while supporting the rapid iteration typical of SpaceX programs.
• Manage tools and organization systems relating to transport projects, move packages, and fleet or vendor assets.
• Provide budgetary estimates based upon the preliminary scope of the move or project.
• Gather proposals from vendors, engineers, and contractors; award contracts upon receipt of all proposals.
• Develop the final cost and schedule for the transport portions of a project, and implement controls as needed to manage cost, schedule, and scope.
• Coordinate route surveys, utility and obstruction reviews, road-closure plans, escorts, and site access at origin and destination.
• Review technical submittals, including transport drawings, load securement details, and equipment certifications.
• Facilitate overweight, oversize, road-use, and other governmental approvals where required.
• Coordinate handoff with Critical Lift at pick and set points so lift and transport plans align.
• Coordinate project implementation and track project status against production, test, and launch need dates.
• Coordinate with end users and facilities teams for routes, laydown, staging, and site restoration.
• Communicate with the internal legal team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, construction management, or an engineering related discipline OR 4+ years of professional experience in construction, engineering, or facilities management in lieu of a degree
• 3+ years of professional experience in construction management, project management, or engineering.
• 1+ years of professional experience managing heavy-haul, oversize, or critical transport projects.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, construction science, logistics, or an engineering discipline.
• Experience with project management and scheduling software.
• Experience planning and executing self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT), platform-trailer, or similar heavy-haul moves of large structures or aerospace hardware.
• Experience with route surveys, load securement, escort and traffic control, and night or weekend moves.
• Knowledge of overweight and oversize permitting and of jurisdictional road, utility, and environmental agencies.
• Understanding of multiple disciplines such as civil, structural, mechanical, and surveying as they apply to transport routes and site access.
• Experience with project management of major construction or industrial moves, including estimating, cost control, schedule, and contractor management.
• Experience reading, reviewing, and approving transport drawings, shop and fabrication drawings, blueprints, and technical manuals.
• Basic proficiency with AutoCAD.
• Design and build experience in a technical field.
• Experience supporting heavy lift at load-out and offload.
• Ability to rapidly change roles and responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a high-paced, challenging work environment.
• Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Frequent travel may be required to support operations at production and launch sites.
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments.
• Candidate must be capable of safely performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review.
• Must be willing to work weekends and night shifts as needed.
• Ability to pass background/clearance checks.

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.