Elon Musk’s SpaceX has touched down in Irvine.
The Hawthorne-based rocket maker and spacecraft company—which also operates under the name Space Exploration Technologies Corp.—this month opened a location at 96 Corporate Park, a three-story office in Irvine that fronts Jamboree Road.
The building is a block from the District at Tustin Legacy shopping center and about 3 miles from John Wayne Airport.
It’s the company’s first location in Orange County.
SpaceX is leasing nearly 8,000 square feet at the building for 63 months, according to Kelemen Caamaño Investments, the building’s Irvine-based owner.
Kelemen Caamaño bought the 41,545-square-foot building last year for a reported $7.8 million, and recently completed a major renovation that turned the property into creative-office space.
“We are very pleased with this opportunity to welcome SpaceX to Orange County,” said Tibor Kelemen, president of Kelemen Caamaño Investments, in a statement. “This was our vision when we acquired this property, to transform it into a modern work environment for the most innovative, thriving companies.”
Job postings on the company’s website show that SpaceX is seeking engineers with wireless and broadband experience for the Irvine location.
The company was sued this year by Broadcom Ltd.—which until this year was based in Irvine—alleging that SpaceX recruited local engineers away from the chip maker after soliciting Broadcom’s services and then declining to work with the company.
SpaceX denies the allegations and said Broadcom—which is now based in Singapore, with U.S. operations centered in San Jose—was one of many vendors from which it sought proposals.
“SpaceX did not pursue or lure engineers from Broadcom,” a spokesperson said at the time the lawsuit was filed. “On the contrary, these engineers reached out to SpaceX anticipating significant layoffs at the Broadcom Irvine location.”
The lawsuit, filed in March, is still being litigated, according to court documents.
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Musk, who also is known for Tesla Motors Inc., which is based in San Carlos and makes luxury electric cars.
SpaceX’s stated goal is “to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.” It employs more than 4,000.
The rocket maker was represented by John F. Anderson of JFA Real Estate in the Irvine lease. Kelemen Caamaño Investments was represented by Rob Rader of Wind Water Realty.
