Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer (Special Programs)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

About The Position

As a Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer on SpaceX’s Special Programs team, you will lead the architecture, integration, and testing of avionics systems for new vehicles. The programs are early in their life cycles, so you will help set the vehicle avionics system’s technical direction while the design is taking shape, mentor engineers, and carry the system through integration, testing, and launch. Aerospace experience is not required. The role calls for versatile, motivated, collaborative engineers who can make decisions with incomplete information and own the results through first flight. The position may involve extended hours, weekend work, and occasional travel to vendor, test, and integration sites. Successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance is a condition of employment. If assigned to sensitive missions, pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing will apply. Applicants must meet the stated U.S. export-control eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain required authorizations. The listed Level 3 pay range is $140,000–$230,000. Actual level and base salary depend on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The total rewards package may include long-term incentives such as company stock or long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental coverage; a 401(k) retirement plan; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; paid parental leave; discounts and perks; up to three weeks of accrued paid vacation; 10 or more paid holidays per year; and paid sick leave under company policy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
At least 5 years of experience with electrical component design, system-level integration of electronic components, or system-level testing.
At least 2 years of experience using software tools such as Python, MATLAB, or C++.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment.
Must meet U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements: U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.
Extended hours and weekend work may be required for critical project and mission milestones.
Occasional travel to vendor, test, and integration sites may be required.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading avionics or electrical system architecture for a vehicle, spacecraft, or other complex electromechanical product.
Experience taking a new vehicle or product from concept through first build and test.
Experience defining system-level verification and test programs for flight or high-reliability hardware.
Experience leading real-time operations such as launch, flight, or test-console support.
Experience with wire harness design, wiring diagrams, and related components such as connectors, backshells, and shielding.
Experience with common avionics interfaces and networks such as Ethernet, CAN, RS-422, SPI, and I2C.
Software fluency, including AI-assisted coding and analysis tools, to automate testing or analysis and manipulate large data sets.
Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and lead technical teams without relying solely on formal authority.
Experience communicating technical direction, risks, and recommendations to program leadership.
Creative problem-solving skills, including the ability to bring multiple disciplines together, assess risk, and make design and development decisions with incomplete information.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere.
Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead avionics system architecture for new vehicles, including power, data, RF, and sensor topologies.
Drive closure of vehicle electrical interfaces by working with responsible engineers in structures, propulsion, GNC, software, and customer teams.
Lead vehicle wiring diagram and harness architecture, and set integration standards for avionics boxes, sensors, and actuators.
Drive system-level trades involving mass, power, thermal performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule, and present recommendations to program leadership.
Lead system-level integration and testing, including integration lane checkouts and vehicle-level testing, partnering with teams responsible for hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Define the avionics system verification strategy and lead test campaigns to demonstrate that the as-built vehicle is ready for launch.
Lead root-cause investigations of integrated-vehicle issues and drive corrective actions into the design.
Support launch operations on console, including real-time vehicle troubleshooting and decision-making.
Mentor systems engineers, review designs and test plans, and raise the team’s technical standards.
Plan and lead system projects, including schedules, task ownership, and the internal and external resources needed.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Company stock or long-term cash awards may be available as long-term incentives.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount.
May accrue three weeks of paid vacation.
Eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave under company policy.
Various discounts and perks.