Mechanical Development Test Engineer - Satellites (Starlink)

SpaceX • Redmond, WA

1d • $95,000 - $130,000

About The Position

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 10M+ 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.
Starlink Development Test is a fast-paced R&D focused group that aims to reduce hardware development time and increase reliability by testing Starlink’s next-generation hardware. Our Test Engineers design, fabricate, and implement test equipment as well as conduct development tests for the new structures, components, mechanisms, and more.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of industry experience (co-ops/internships can apply)

Nice To Haves

• Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical structures and/or high-pressure systems
• Professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures
• Experience with hydraulic, thermal, structural, electromechanical, high pressure, and vacuum systems
• Experience with basic test instrumentation and control components such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid valves, and encoders
• Experience with Unigraphics (NX)
• Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA)
• Experience with steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis
• Experience with high pressure (up to 30,000 psi) fluid system design and analysis
• Experience working with lithium-ion batteries
• Demonstrated understanding of structural and mechanical first principles analysis
• Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation
• Hands-on experience with testing, data acquisition, and troubleshooting issues
• Hands-on design and fabrication experience
• Basic programming skills (Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS preferred)

Responsibilities

• Create test stand concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists
• Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms
• Supervise the integration of test stands including fabrication, mechanical assembly and data/control systems
• Operate test stands with great attention to detail (tests have very little margin for error, so attention to detail is a crucial and essential characteristic of a development test engineer)
• Develop test requirements with the flight engineering team, develop a design solution that meets or exceeds those requirements, and drive the campaign to closure

Benefits

• You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, 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 in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law.
• Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday

What This Job Offers

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