Manager, Vehicle Engineer (Starlink Aviation)

SpaceX•Woodinville, WA

21h•$165,000 - $245,000

About The Position

The Manager, Vehicle Engineering for Starlink Aviation manages vehicle leads responsible for aircraft airframe product lines, including their feature roadmaps, demand, delivery, and performance. This senior engineering manager remains a strong individual-contributor engineer and planner and reports to the Director, Starlink Aviation Mission Management. Success means releasing applicable designs and allocating factory capacity so customer activations happen on schedule, with hardware that remains in service. The role owns each assigned airframe’s product roadmap from prospecting and development through customer launch and in-service reliability. It coordinates customer requirements, configuration and kit definition, engineering records, installation architecture, certification strategy, production and supply-chain readiness, and the schedule. The manager also oversees reliability improvements, supports first-of-type installations and field escalations, and serves as the single point of contact for the airframe’s status, capabilities, and production readiness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, or another engineering discipline.
At least 7 years of professional experience taking electro-mechanical or avionics products from design through certification and fielded operation.
At least 3 years leading engineers who own a product line, vehicle, or similarly scoped system.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed for first-article installations, certification tests, and in-service issues.
Willingness to travel, including internationally, 25–40%.
Ability to lift 25 lbs unassisted.

Nice To Haves

Experience owning a hardware roadmap and production or build plan against customer delivery dates.
Experience as a technical program manager or product manager for certified airborne hardware.
Direct experience with FAA/EASA certification, including STC, PMA, DO-160, ARP4754, or equivalent.
Experience integrating radio-frequency, power, and networked systems on aircraft.
Proficiency with ERP and PLM systems for engineering masters, manufacturing bills of materials, and change control.
Experience introducing a product to production rate and supporting it in the field.
Demonstrated ability to resolve system-level failures on wing and incorporate the fix into design or process.
Record of planning factory or supplier capacity against a demand signal.

Responsibilities

Hire, develop, and performance-manage vehicle leads for assigned aircraft types.
Own each assigned airframe’s product roadmap from prospects and development through customer launch and in-service reliability, including features needed to meet customer requirements.
Sequence demand, design changes, configuration upgrades, and improvements in installation time, reliability, and cost into production, with named owners and measurable results.
Maintain a detailed, executable live plan by keeping aircraft data, intake forms, surveys, and customer requirements current with Fleet Operations and Mission Management.
Own customer requirements throughout the product lifecycle; question, accept, or reject requirements as appropriate, decide customer-impacting trades, and contribute to Statements of Work before deal closure.
Own the fleet configuration matrix and kit definition, including antenna, power, router, cabin networking, and related hardware; determine the applicable configuration from customer data for production and fielded aircraft.
Own engineering change and issue records for assigned part numbers; release masters, bills of materials, drawings, and change records in ERP/PLM before production commits a slot.
Set installation architecture standards for antenna mounting, equipment placement, power, harnessing, and cabin networking, and resolve trades involving mass, drag, radio-frequency performance, and installation hours.
Align software, maintenance, integration design, operations, and quality around a shared, executable requirements set for each airframe and customer.
Lead certification strategy and execution, including supplemental type certificates, approved model lists, test plans, conformity, and engagement with the FAA, EASA, and designated engineering representatives.
Own production and supply-chain readiness; secure and allocate factory capacity and build-plan positions to match customer activation priorities.
Drive the airframe schedule, clear critical-path blockers, and escalate in time to hold or improve customer launch dates.
Own in-service reliability, including field failures, dispatch risk, and the design queue that keeps aircraft flying; convert on-wing findings into standard designs or processes.
Support first-of-type installations on site and travel to airline and maintenance sites for first articles, fleet assessments, and escalations.
Serve as the single point of contact for the airframe’s status, capabilities, and production readiness, coordinating certification, manufacturing, engineering, quality, Mission Management, and the customer.
Brief leadership on roadmap status, design readiness, production rate, and risks to activation dates.

Benefits

Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Comprehensive medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
Potential accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation.
Eligibility for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.