SpaceX has begun hiring for its planned Starbase Louisiana facility in Vermilion Parish. Here are the positions currently posted, what they require, and which jobs will require relocation to Pecan Island.

The first wave of hiring for SpaceX's massive Louisiana project has begun.

As of Oct. 1, SpaceX has posted four positions connected to its new Pecan Island facility in Vermilion Parish, ranging from civil engineering and construction management to government affairs and real estate law. https://www.acadiananewsfirst.com

The number is still tiny compared with what is expected eventually.

Louisiana Economic Development says SpaceX plans to create 3,000 direct jobs over the next 10 years, with an average annual salary of approximately $92,600. The state projects another 8,100 indirect jobs associated with the development. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch targeted as soon as 2029. Opportunity Louisiana

For now, however, these are the jobs actually appearing.

1. Civil Engineer, Land Development — Starbase Infrastructure

Location: Pecan Island, Louisiana — but initially Starbase, Texas

SpaceX is hiring a civil engineer to work on development of its Louisiana launch infrastructure.

The position covers site feasibility, conceptual planning, grading, drainage, stormwater management, utilities, erosion control, permitting and construction coordination. SpaceX requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, at least one year of professional civil-engineering design, analysis and drafting experience, and experience with CAD software. Greenhouse

There is an important catch for Louisiana applicants.

The job starts at SpaceX's existing Starbase operation near Brownsville, Texas.

SpaceX says the employee will be based there initially and must relocate full-time to Louisiana in early 2027. The position is not remote and may require travel up to 75% of the time. Greenhouse

View the Civil Engineer position at SpaceX

2. Senior Construction Project Manager — Starship Infrastructure

Location: Pecan Island, Louisiana — initially Starbase, Texas

SpaceX is also recruiting a senior construction project manager for the Louisiana infrastructure buildout.

This is a senior-level construction position responsible for multidisciplinary projects, field personnel, schedules, budgets, subcontractors, safety, permitting and construction closeout.

SpaceX lists eight or more years of professional experience in engineering or construction management as a basic qualification. Experience with major construction projects, greenfield development, concrete, earthwork, steel structures, permitting and contractor management is preferred. Greenhouse

Like the civil-engineering position, this one begins at Starbase, Texas.

SpaceX says relocation to Louisiana will be required in early 2027. Remote work is not available, and travel of up to 75% may be required. Greenhouse

View the Senior Construction Project Manager position at SpaceX

3. Government Affairs Manager

Location: Pecan Island / Vermilion Parish

This position provides perhaps the clearest indication that SpaceX is beginning to establish a permanent local presence rather than simply planning construction from Texas.

The Government Affairs Manager will lead external affairs for the new Pecan Island launch site, including relationships with state and local government, community and business relations and educational outreach. Greenhouse

SpaceX requires a bachelor's degree and at least five years of relevant public-affairs experience. The company specifically lists experience with government policy, advocacy, government affairs, legislative navigation or crisis and issue management.

Louisiana connections could matter.

SpaceX lists existing relationships with Louisiana community leaders and knowledge of local government affairs among its preferred qualifications.

Most importantly for the local housing market, the posting explicitly states:

The employee must reside in or near Vermilion Parish. Greenhouse

View the Government Affairs Manager position at SpaceX

4. Senior Counsel, Real Estate & Infrastructure

Location: Pecan Island, Louisiana

SpaceX is also hiring an experienced real-estate attorney to support development of Starbase Louisiana.

Recent reporting based on the company's posting says the attorney will handle matters involving land acquisitions, leases, easements, rights-of-way, contracts and infrastructure development associated with the Louisiana facility. The position requires onsite work at Pecan Island. Vermilion Boom

SpaceX is seeking an attorney admitted to the Louisiana bar with at least eight years of experience supporting complex commercial transactions. Vermilion Boom

This particular position is also worth watching from a real-estate and development perspective.

SpaceX's need for dedicated Louisiana real-estate counsel gives some indication of the amount of land, infrastructure, easement and right-of-way work still involved in turning the proposed spaceport into an operating facility.

This Is Only the Beginning of SpaceX Hiring

Four positions should not be confused with the eventual Starbase Louisiana workforce.

The state says the completed project is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs over 10 years, while the development itself is expected to include five launch complexes with two launch pads each, propellant farms, propellant production, power generation, vehicle processing and employee housing. Opportunity Louisiana

SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell has also described a much broader workforce than engineers alone, mentioning technicians, welders, builders and workers supporting operation of the spaceport. https://www.fox8live.com

Those positions are not necessarily open today.

That distinction matters.

There will likely be enormous interest in SpaceX employment throughout Acadiana, but the company's current Louisiana hiring remains in an early phase concentrated around the professionals needed to establish, develop and manage the site.

Two of the Current Jobs Actually Start in Texas

There is another interesting pattern in the first hiring round.

The civil engineer and senior construction project manager are both Louisiana positions, but SpaceX wants those employees working at its existing Texas Starbase operation before relocating them to Louisiana in early 2027. Greenhouse

That effectively gives those employees experience inside an operating SpaceX launch-development environment before they help build the Louisiana facility.

It also means some of the first Starbase Louisiana employees could arrive in Vermilion Parish as corporate relocations rather than local hires.

That matters for housing.

Where Will SpaceX Employees Live?

Pecan Island itself is not a conventional suburban housing market.

Employees moving into Louisiana will have to balance proximity to the facility against housing inventory, schools, insurance, flood exposure, amenities, spouse employment and commute time.

That puts communities including Abbeville, Maurice, Youngsville, Broussard and Lafayette into the relocation conversation.

Which one makes sense will depend heavily on the employee.

A construction manager willing to prioritize commute time may make a different decision than a two-income household whose second worker needs access to Lafayette.

And an employee looking for acreage will have a fundamentally different search than someone looking for a newer subdivision home.

Expect the Job List to Change

The most useful thing job seekers can do right now is distinguish between the 3,000 jobs projected over the next decade and positions SpaceX is actually accepting applications for today.

As of Oct. 1, the Louisiana hiring push remains small.

But it has started.

And as construction approaches in 2027, the mix of positions should provide an increasingly clear picture of what Starbase Louisiana's permanent workforce will actually look like.

Search current SpaceX jobs directly on the company's careers site

About the Author

Dalton Barron is an investigative reporter and Louisiana-licensed real estate salesperson affiliated with NextHome Bayou Pines. His reporting focuses on public records, real estate, development, infrastructure, business, government and local data across Southwest Louisiana.

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