Sr. Electromagnetic Effects Engineer (Lightning Effects)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

21h

About The Position

As a member of SpaceX’s electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) team, the Sr. Electromagnetic Effects Engineer is responsible for ensuring hardware performance in demanding electromagnetic environments. The role focuses on ensuring orbital-class reusable launch vehicles can withstand the direct and indirect effects of lightning. The E3 team conducts analysis, design, and testing at board, unit, subsystem, and system levels, and works with rocket, spacecraft, and ground support equipment hardware and electronics. The team interfaces with design, manufacturing, integration, and mission operations teams.

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.
Must meet U.S. export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.
Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones.

Nice To Haves

At least 5 years of E3 work experience, including EMI/EMC requirements, analysis, design, and testing.
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, bills of materials, 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 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 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 across subsystems, including propulsion, recovery, autonomous flight safety, solar arrays, structures, avionics, ground support equipment, RF, and communications systems.
Generate control plans, technical memoranda, test plans, and test reports as needed.

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 insurance.
Dental insurance.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
Up to 3 weeks of accrued paid vacation.
10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave under company policy.