Satellite Hardware Test Engineer (Starlink)

SATELLITE HARDWARE TEST ENGINEER (STARLINK) 

Satellite Hardware Test Engineers are responsible for designing, developing and validating production test infrastructure for integrated systems. A successful Satellite Hardware Test Engineer demonstrates engineering intuition and critical thinking and is comfortable working under ambiguous requirements with minimal oversight. Combining these skills, these engineers face challenges across a wide variety of work centers at the company, and the team is frequently asked to tackle new, inter-departmental development projects. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Develop and architect test to cover test requirements for complex satellite systems including electromechanical and optomechanical hardware 
• Ensure adequate production test coverage across various stages and levels of satellite assemblies 
• Write automation software in Python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and manufacturing execution systems 
• Integrate commercially off the shelf test equipment with existing test infrastructure and manufacturing execution systems 
• Drive design or infrastructure improvements to increase product reliability and yield 
• Root-cause test failures to ensure issues are understood and develop and implement mitigations as part of a process of continuous improvement 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics 
• 1+ years of professional experience with hardware development or electronics test engineering
• 1+ years of professional programming experience 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Experience with test equipment and measurement techniques to verify and validate product requirements 
• Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage 
• Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis 
• Experience developing object-oriented software 
• Experience analyzing circuits and developing functional test plans 
• Documentation and configuration management experience 
• Experience writing test plans, procedures and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale 
• Experience in a production environment 
• Experience with data analysis to evaluate performance and sensitivities of systems 
• Experience developing software to actively control electrical or mechanical devices 

• Some travel to our launch sites may be required as needed, up to 10% 
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg 
• Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed 
• This position is very hands-on and requires one to be on their feet for extended periods of time, up to 4 hours at a time 
• Will often work side by side with our technicians and must be able to climb ladders, stoop, bend, crawl, and work in tight spaces 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:                          

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.