Sr. Electromagnetic Effects Engineer (Lightning Effects)
About The Position
As a member of SpaceX’s electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) team, the Sr. Electromagnetic Effects Engineer will ensure hardware performance in demanding electromagnetic environments. The role focuses on designing reusable orbital-class launch vehicles to withstand direct and indirect effects of lightning. The E3 team conducts analysis, design, and testing at board, unit, subsystem, and system levels, working with rocket, spacecraft, and ground support equipment hardware and electronics. The team interfaces with design, manufacturing, integration, and mission operations teams to support SpaceX systems and its efforts in satellite broadband and access to space.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, or another engineering discipline.
- At least 3 years of experience in electromagnetic environmental effects or computational physics.
- Experience programming in Python.
Nice To Haves
- At least 5 years of E3 work experience, including EMI/EMC requirements, analysis, design, and testing.
- Previous work experience with SAE ARP lightning specifications, DO-160G, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, or NFPA 780; DO-160 training or certification credentials.
- Knowledge of lightning electromagnetic effects on commercial aircraft, space vehicles, and launch vehicles, including grounding, bonding, shielding, composites, HIRF, and electromagnetic field coupling.
- Knowledge of Maxwell’s equations, image charge/current, and lumped-element modeling.
- Experience reading and interpreting circuit schematics, PCB layouts, engineering drawings, BOMs, cable harnesses, wiring schematics, interface diagrams, layout drawings, mechanical drawings, and CAD software.
- Demonstrated experience troubleshooting EMI/EMC events from board to system level.
- Experience in a fast-paced work environment with production or flight hardware.
- Ability to adapt to constantly changing work assignments.
- Excellent concentration and attention to detail, with outstanding work efficiency and accuracy.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Perform lightning zoning analysis and design SpaceX orbital vehicles to survive direct and indirect lightning effects.
- Perform computational modeling of lightning stress coupling to electrical interfaces using CST, HFSS, EMA3D, or other electromagnetic solvers.
- Analyze lightning effects and mitigations, including circuit and power system grounding architectures, structural electrical bonding, circuit isolation, transfer impedance, shielding effectiveness, near-field and far-field electrodynamics, and arc flash.
- Inform and review direct and indirect effects testing to verify lightning robustness on subsystems, including propulsion systems, recovery systems, autonomous flight safety systems, solar arrays, structures, avionics, ground support equipment, and RF and communications systems.
- Generate control plans, technical memos, test plans, and test reports as needed.
Benefits
- Potential 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.
- Accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation.
- 10 or more paid holidays per year.
- Paid sick leave pursuant to company policy.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
