SpaceX Verified

Aerospace, Space Exploration, Telecommunications, Manufacturing

Electromagnetic Effects Engineer (Starlink Aviation)

Woodinville, WAInternshipEntry-level (exp-based)$105,000–$145,000 /yrPosted 2 months ago

Is this role right for you?

Upload your resume and get a skill-by-skill breakdown — see exactly where you match, where you're close, and what to highlight. Not a mystery percentage.

Get a tailored resume highlighting what this role needs.

Required skills

EMI/EMC
electromagnetic environmental effects
lightning
circuit grounding
power system grounding
structural electrical bonding
circuit isolation
transfer impedance
shielding effectiveness
radiated emissions

Nice to have

RF engineering
electrical circuit analysis
circuit schematics
PCB layouts
engineering drawings
BOMs

Role summary

SpaceX's Starlink Aviation team is seeking an Electromagnetic Effects Engineer to ensure the performance of Starlink equipment on aircraft. This role involves deep analysis, design, and testing at multiple levels to address aviation-specific EMI compatibility issues. You will investigate root causes, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and help shape future in-flight connectivity systems. Responsibilities include performing detailed analysis and design related to lightning effects, grounding, isolation, shielding, emissions, susceptibility, and computational electromagnetics. You will set physics-based requirements, test and validate systems, troubleshoot EMI/RF problems from board to system level, and support certification efforts through testing and documentation. The role requires operating various test equipment and independently documenting findings. A Bachelor's degree in EE, Physics, or STEM, with at least 1 year of EEE work experience and experience with radio test equipment and programming (Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB) is required. Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree, 3+ years of E3 experience, familiarity with MIL-STD and FAA standards, and experience troubleshooting EMI/EMC events.

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.

ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS ENGINEER (STARLINK AVIATION)

Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious program to bring high-quality internet to the globe by building a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which we have launched on our Falcon 9 reusable rockets over the past years. The Starlink Aviation team is developing mobility solutions for aircraft that will connect to the Starlink constellation and provide an amazing customer experience in flight.

As an EMI/EMC engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring hardware performance of the Starlink equipment on board a variety of aircraft and mobile systems. You will perform exhaustive analysis, design, and test at the board, unit, subsystem, and system levels, with extensive opportunity to interact with a vast array of aircraft systems, avionics equipment, and ground support electronics. You will help solve aviation-specific EMI compatibility issues, running root cause investigations and collaborating with electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to improve the reliability, resilience, and performance of the product. You will help steer the direction of the next-generation wireless systems to make in-flight connectivity truly seamless.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform analysis and design relating to effects of lightning; circuit and power system grounding architectures; structural electrical bonding; circuit isolation; transfer impedance; shielding effectiveness; radiated/conducted emissions and susceptibility; near-field/far-field electrodynamics; computational electromagnetics; etc.

Set requirements based on physics rather than industry standards—a much deeper understanding of electromagnetic environmental effects is critical. Interface with, teach, and collaborate with EE, ME, DSP, and software engineers to test and validate systems.

Characterize and solve EMI and RF problems from board to system level. Analyze and troubleshoot EMI performance in the field, during and after aircraft integration.

Support certification efforts by performing EMI and EMC testing, documenting and discussing results with designated authorities.

Operate a variety of EMI, RF, and electronics test equipment. Independently perform verifications and document results in a clear, precise, and complete manner.

Support engineering effectively and confidently with creative thinking and rigor—question the status quo while adhering to documentation and maintaining prescribed quality standards.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline.

1+ years of electromagnetic environmental effects work experience, including EMI/EMC requirements, analysis, design, and testing (internship or professional experience).

1+ years of experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers (internship or professional experience).

1+ years of programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB (internship or professional experience).

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Advanced degree in electrical engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline.

3+ years of E3 work experience, including EMI/EMC requirements, analysis, design, and testing.

Previous experience with MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, FAA DO-160, FCC Radio and EMC standards, and requirements.

Demonstrate experience troubleshooting EMI/EMC events from board to system level.

Previous work experience with reading, interpreting, and following: circuit schematics, PCB layouts, engineering drawings, BOMs, cable harnesses, wiring schematics, interface diagrams, layout drawings, mechanical drawings, and CAD software.

Strong knowledge of E3 fundamentals, RF engineering, and electrical circuit analysis.

Experience with problem-solving in a fast-paced work environment with production/flight hardware.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed.

Must be willing to travel internationally as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Pay Range: Level 1: $105,000.00 - $145,000.00Level 2: $120,000.00 - $175,000.00
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 accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
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.

Sample SpaceX interview questions

1
Build a distributed platform for storing and serving digital assets.
system designmedium
2
Design a system for real-time processing of IoT device data.
system designmedium
3
Design a distributed message queue like Kafka.
system designmedium
4
Develop a web app that shortens URLs like TinyURL.
system designmedium
5
Propose a high-level design for a tracing system that can handle millions of spans per second across thousands of services.
system designmedium

Get started to unlock a personalized interview prep pack for this role.

Ready to apply?

You'll be redirected to SpaceX's application page.