Principal Test Engineer, Compute Payload (Starmind)

SpaceX • Bastrop, TX

18d

About The Position

SpaceX is developing Starmind, a satellite constellation designed to capture solar energy in space and provide low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. The Starmind team develops the satellite and compute technologies in-house, including flight computers, power systems, compute electronics, memory, and networking.

The Principal Test Engineer on the Compute Payload team owns the system used to validate hardware for on-orbit AI processing and data center workloads. The role involves driving test architecture and design decisions, mentoring engineers, and establishing technical standards. The engineer designs test and automation systems, analyzes and troubleshoots power and fluid systems used in testing, defines processes, and designs fixtures and tools. The role also identifies product and process improvements to support aggressive production ramp targets.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in a manufacturing or test environment, demonstrating automation control accomplishments through professional work, project- or research-based student experience, or a combination of these.
• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel for short and extended trips as needed, up to 15%.
• Ability to stand for extended periods, up to four hours at a time.
• Ability to climb ladders, stoop, bend, crawl, and work in tight spaces.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering discipline.
• Ability to mentor engineers and lead technical teams without relying solely on formal authority.
• Experience working in a highly adaptive and iterative environment.
• Experience integrating and testing propulsion, thermal, electrical, and/or structural systems.
• Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and test validation, and scaling to high volume as part of a cross-functional team.
• Proficiency with NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or other industry-standard CAD design tools.
• Experience with process qualifications.
• Ability to design tooling for high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience implementing automation into test processes.
• Experience working with and defining requirements for ERP, MRP, and MES systems.
• Knowledge and experience testing pressurized fluid or gas systems.
• Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement test processes that integrate into an electro-mechanical assembly line and enable rapid iteration.
• Create sustainable automated test systems with robust mechanical and software systems.
• Manage the physical infrastructure for test integration and operations.
• Work with engineers, specialists, and technicians to optimize testing operations.
• Collaborate with mechanical design teams and end users to incorporate designs that optimize testing.
• Lead development tests and ensure incremental milestones for the production ramp are met.
• Track manufacturing system metrics related to rate, cost, and quality.
• Identify tooling and hardware requirements, then design and implement them in production processes.
• Evaluate non-conformances to determine root causes and drive test optimization.

What This Job Offers

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