Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

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.

SR. MECHANICAL ENGINEER, SATELLITES (STARLINK)

Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation, providing broadband-quality internet anywhere on earth. We’re leveraging our SpaceX knowledge in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy thousands of satellites each year; today’s constellation serves over five million customers in more than 120 countries. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – the satellite hardware, the user antennas that connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. The Starlink constellation will continue to grow with increasingly powerful hardware, higher bandwidth, and a wider consumer base. We’re looking for world-class engineers to help this mission.

As a mechanical design engineer within the satellite vehicle engineering organization you will get to solve complex structural, thermal, and electromechanical problems on the various space grade hardware that make our satellites come to life. Our engineers get to own the full design lifecycle all the way from ideation, design, and test, through to manufacturing and largescale production. You will regularly partner with a wide variety of different cross functional engineering disciplines, and together you will democratize internet access all over the world. There are several sub-teams within the larger vehicle engineering group, each with a different focus area. Applicants will be considered broadly for all teams and then matched to a specific one after factoring in best technical fit, team need, and candidate preference

• Mechanisms Team: end to end electromechanical design for the actuators, reaction wheels, torque rods, solar arrays, etc.
• Space Lasers Team: work in partnership with the optical team design opto-mechanical assemblies for our industry leading Space Lasers and other optical payloads.
• Bus Avionics Team: partner with the Bus electrical engineers, design for anything from mechanical avionics modules, thermal, structural, new component selection, harnessing, integration to satellites, etc.
• Structural Team: design and analysis of the satellite primary structure, e.g. chassis, ribs, rails, and propulsion tank
• Solar Arrays Team: work on the most prolific space solar design/factory in the world. Design work ranges from flight array to test and production machine design; as well as thermal/electrical/material interfaces with other groups  
• Battery Packs Team: mechanical design, thermal, and electrical analysis on the in-house battery packs with thousands of individual battery cells, emphasizing mass-efficient and runaway-resistant architectures.

Your placement on these teams will be determined throughout the interviewing process after factoring in technical fit, expertise, team need, and your personal preference

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Own hardware from conceptual design through high volume production and on-orbit operation for the Starlink constellation 
• Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization 
• Rapidly iterate on designs and analysis to inform high level systems trades and steer overall product direction 
• Drive holistic DFM to create elegant designs with a focus on piece part and process count reductions, error proofing at every step of fabrication and integration, and consistent performance and production metrics
• Establish an efficient product lifecycle starting in the supply chain all the way through final integration that balances cost, complexity, and quality; work closely with partner teams to design and realize an efficient in-house production line
• Perform environmental and performance testing on hardware to validate analysis and demonstrate compliance to design criteria
• Own product delivery timeline through conception, design, assembly, and launch
• Demonstrate extreme ownership of product outcomes at every stage of development and production 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline 
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages 
• 5+ years of professional experience with mechanical/electromechanical design, analysis, testing, and/or manufacturing

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline
• 3+ years of professional experience in mechanical design and analysis
• 2+ years of hands-on project experience with complex mechanical systems, preferably as a team lead
• Proficient in 3D CAD (NX preferred)
• Solid understanding and application of GD&T
• Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems
• Prior ownership of a complex component or assembly from initial design through high-volume production ramp
• Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills 

Some preferred skills and experience depend on the specific team within Starlink mechanical engineering, and may include: 

• Knowledge of and experience in selecting materials, manufacturing methods, and surface treatments for mechanical components 
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages
• Experience working with PCB designers and exposure to PCB layout and PCBA mechanical design
• Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and process qualification
• Specific expertise applicable to any of the above sub-teams 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support mission critical milestones 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 3: $135,000.00 - $220,000.00

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.

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 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 in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

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 [email protected].