SpaceX Verified

Aerospace, Space Exploration, Telecommunications, Manufacturing

Electrical Test Development Engineer, Customer Hardware (Starlink)

Bastrop, TXOnsiteInternshipEntry-level (exp-based)Posted 2 months ago

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Required skills

Starlink dishes
user terminals
Wi-Fi routers
phased arrays
power supplies

Nice to have

functional test plans
product requirements
electrical schematics
measurement error
uncertainty analysis
failure mechanisms

Role summary

SpaceX is seeking an Electrical Test Development Engineer for its Starlink program to develop test solutions for customer-facing hardware like satellite dishes and Wi-Fi routers. This role involves designing, implementing, and verifying automated test systems to ensure product reliability and performance. The engineer will work with cross-functional teams, including electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing, and will have significant influence on product operations. Responsibilities include selecting or designing test hardware, writing Python automation software, and collaborating with design and manufacturing teams to improve product reliability and yield. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field, with at least 1 year of experience in hardware development or electronics test engineering and programming.

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.

ELECTRICAL TEST DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, CUSTOMER HARDWARE (STARLINK)

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact. As we continue to upgrade and expand the constellation, we’re looking for best-in-class engineers to join the team.

As a Starlink Electrical Test Development Engineer, you’ll have complete ownership over the development of test solutions for characterizing the reliability and performance of millions of customer-facing devices that we ship directly to end users (Starlink dishes/user terminals, Wi-Fi routers, etc.). Our customers currently include teachers in the most remote parts of the Amazon, researchers in Antarctica, digital nomads who travel via RV, emergency responders, commercial airlines, cruise lines, and residential users who live in more rural or developing areas. You will be responsible for the design, implementation, and verification of development, production, and reliability test solutions. You will interact regularly with senior leadership to influence the fundamental operation of our products while collaborating with electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to steer this project from initial concept development to full-scale production.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design and develop automated test solutions for our high-volume consumer phased arrays, WiFi routers, power supplies, and upcoming products

Select commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and/or design custom PCBAs to measure signals, apply flight-like loads, and power units under test

Write automation software in Python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, field data, and production documentation systems

Work closely with and consistently provide feedback to responsible design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and test lab teams to drive design or infrastructure improvements to increase product reliability and yield

Challenge assumptions and work to find simple solutions to complex problems

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline

1+ years of experience with hardware development or electronics test engineering (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable)

1+ years of programming experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience analyzing circuits and developing functional test plans

Experience designing and troubleshooting PCBAs

Experience with test equipment and measurement techniques to verify and validate product requirements (oscilloscope, multimeter, electronic load, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, vector signal generator, source measurement unit, etc.)

Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage

Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis

Experience developing object-oriented software

Thorough understanding of electronics reliability and failure mechanisms

Understanding and experience in environmental testing such as HALT/HASS, thermal, vibration and TVAC

Strong understanding of computers and programming languages (Python, C/C++)

Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines

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.

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