Battery Engineer (Falcon & Dragon)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

1d•$105,000 - $150,000

About The Position

As a Battery Engineer on the Falcon & Dragon Avionics Hardware Development team, you will have the unique opportunity to explore all areas of a battery’s life cycle from development through production and launch by engaging in multiple disciplines with a focus on design, reliability, and manufacturing. In addition to designing new assemblies from scratch, you will be expected to analyze and troubleshoot electronic/pack assemblies, define and optimize new processes, design circuits/fixtures/tools, and identify opportunities for improvement in both products and processes. You will have the opportunity to own a wide variety of components that enable SpaceX vehicles to provide the safest and most reliable access to space. Our fundamental goal is to allow humanity to explore the stars; with it comes an extreme responsibility to ensure the safety of the crew and payload.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
1+ years of experience in hardware design (academic projects, internships, and professional experience all qualify)
1+ years of experience with electrical test equipment (e.g., multimeters, signal generators, oscilloscopes)

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of lithium-ion battery cells, cell balancing, and BMS integration
Experience with Passive Propagation Testing (PPR) and Battery Abuse Testing
Proficiency in MATLAB or Python, with strong numerical methods experience
Familiarity with JSC-20793 and SMC-S-16
Experience with electrical simulation software (LTspice, SIMetrix, or similar)
Knowledge of common circuit blocks including filters, power supplies, and microcontrollers.
Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
Familiarity managing projects from start to finish
Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills
Creative problem solver capable of working within a multidisciplinary team

Responsibilities

Provide extreme ownership of battery assemblies for flight across all areas of the product life cycle
Support the development of battery pack designs, layouts, and electrical schematics from initial requirements to in-flight operation
Define manufacturing requirements, specifications, and validation from productions cells to full scale packs
Collaborate with partner teams and programs on cell selection, pack configuration, and system integration
Drive changes to electrical schematics and mechanical drawings that improve reliability and manufacturability
Design test setups and execute hardware validation through benchtop, environmental testing, and abuse testing campaigns
Optimize pack level system operation for degradation and reliability
Derive engineering justification to resolve production issues throughout assembly, test, and vehicle integration