Hardware Development Engineer, Gateway Failure Analysis (Starlink)

SpaceX • Bastrop, TX

4d

About The Position

As a Hardware Development Engineer on Starlink, you’ll contribute to the design, build, and test electronics for the world's largest network of ground stations, which function as an intermediary between the satellites and our end-users to ensure smooth data transfer and transmission. You will sit at the intersection of electrical, mechanical, thermal analysis, software, and antenna engineering - ultimately ensuring that our ground antenna hardware can withstand the harshest environmental conditions while maintaining reliable communication with millions of users on a global scale. This is an opportunity to work on cutting edge R&D technology, and some of the most complex applications of electrical and mechanical engineering in the industry.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline
• 1+ years of experience in hardware development, failure analysis, or reliability engineering (internships and co-ops acceptable)

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline
• Experience with both electronics and mechanical design and analysis including knowledge of RF principles
• Experience analyzing circuits and PCBAs, and developing functional test plans
• 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.)
• Experience in environmental testing such as HALT/HASS, thermal, humidity, shock & vibration
• Strong understanding of computers and programming languages (Python, C/C++)
• Thorough understanding of electronics reliability, manufacturing, and failure mechanisms
• Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis methods
• Thorough understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute novel environmental, RF, mechanical, and electrical test solutions for our ground antenna electronics and payload
• Perform detailed failure analysis of ground antenna hardware, identifying root causes of failures and implementing corrective actions
• Select commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and/or design custom PCBAs to measure signals, apply flight-like loads, and power units under test
• Hands-on support of hardware through design qualification, production ramp, and ground network rollout
• Work closely with engineers from adjacent disciplines (mechanical, thermal, software, test engineering, supply chain, silicon design) to deliver tightly integrated, high-performance hardware
• Perform electrical bench testing of failures to replicate and inform mitigation of anomalies
• Drive continual improvements to our designs by building physical and digital tools to analyze data collected both in the field and in the lab
• Challenge assumptions and work to find simple solutions to complex problems

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level