Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

SpaceX•Redmond, WA

About The Position

SpaceX is hiring a Senior Mechanical Engineer for Starlink’s satellite vehicle engineering organization. The role involves solving structural, thermal, and electromechanical problems across space-grade satellite hardware and owning designs through the full lifecycle—from ideation and design through testing, manufacturing, high-volume production, and on-orbit operation. The engineer will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop increasingly capable Starlink hardware and support reliable, large-scale satellite production. Candidates may be matched to a team based on technical fit, team needs, expertise, and preference. Possible teams include Mechanisms, designing electromechanical hardware such as actuators, reaction wheels, torque rods, and solar arrays; Space Lasers, designing opto-mechanical assemblies with the optical team; Bus Avionics, covering mechanical avionics modules, thermal and structural design, component selection, harnessing, and satellite integration; Structural, designing and analyzing primary satellite structures; Solar Arrays, designing flight arrays and test and production machinery; and Battery Packs, performing mechanical, thermal, and electrical design and analysis for mass-efficient, runaway-resistant battery packs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
Experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
At least 5 years of professional experience in mechanical or electromechanical design, analysis, testing, and/or manufacturing.
Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support mission-critical milestones.
Must meet U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
At least 3 years of professional experience in mechanical design and analysis.
At least 2 years of hands-on project experience with complex mechanical systems, preferably as a team lead.
Proficiency in 3D CAD; NX is preferred.
Solid understanding and application of GD&T.
Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems.
Prior ownership of a complex component or assembly from initial design through high-volume production ramp.
Self-motivation and strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
Knowledge of and experience selecting materials, manufacturing methods, and surface treatments for mechanical components.
Proficiency in one or more programming languages.
Experience working with PCB designers and exposure to PCB layout and PCBA mechanical design.
Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and process qualification.
Specific expertise applicable to one or more of the Starlink mechanical engineering sub-teams.

Responsibilities

Own hardware from conceptual design through high-volume production and on-orbit operation for the Starlink constellation.
Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization.
Iterate on designs and analyses to inform system-level trades and product direction.
Drive design for manufacturability, reducing piece-part and process counts, preventing errors during fabrication and integration, and maintaining consistent performance and production metrics.
Establish an efficient product lifecycle from the supply chain through final integration, balancing cost, complexity, and quality; collaborate with partner teams to design and realize an efficient in-house production line.
Perform environmental and performance testing to validate analyses and demonstrate compliance with design criteria.
Own product delivery timelines through conception, design, assembly, and launch.
Take ownership of product outcomes throughout development and production.

Benefits

Potential long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount.
Medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Three weeks of paid vacation may accrue.
Ten or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick time for Washington State employees in compliance with state and federal law.
Various other discounts and perks.
Company shuttles for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office, Monday through Friday.