Development Test Engineer (Starlink)

SpaceX

Bastrop, TX

On-site

Who this role is best for

Mechanical engineers with hands-on design and testing experience will find this R&D-focused role in Starlink development testing.

Best fit for

Candidates with mechanical engineering degrees and hands-on hardware project experience
— “Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering”
Individuals who have designed and tested high-pressure systems or similar environments
— “Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical structures and/or high-pressure systems”
Engineers with a track record of full-cycle hardware project ownership and execution
— “Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation”

Things to consider

Travel up to 25% is expected to other SpaceX sites, which may impact work-life balance
— “Must be willing to travel as needed, up to 25% to other SpaceX sites”
The role involves physical labor, including lifting up to 25 lbs unassisted and working at elevated heights
— “Ability to work at elevated heights occasionally (scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts)”
This role is restricted to U.S. citizens or those eligible for export authorizations
— “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident”

How to stand out

Highlight specific projects involving structural or fluid system design and testing
— “Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms”
Demonstrate experience with instrumentation like pressure transducers and strain gauges
— “Experience with basic test instrumentation and control components such as pressure transducers”
Showcase hands-on design and fabrication skills, especially with steel or aluminum weldments
— “Experience with steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis”
Emphasize attention to detail and test execution in your resume and interview responses
— “Operate test stands with great attention to detail”

Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

design and implement test equipment
conduct development tests for new hardware
drive campaign to closure

Typical background

mechanical engineering degreeexperience with mechanical structures

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical EngineeringTest Stand DesignFabrication DrawingsInstrumentation ListsHydraulic SystemsThermal SystemsStructural SystemsElectromechanical SystemsHigh Pressure SystemsVacuum SystemsFinite Element AnalysisSteel And Aluminum Weldment DesignTestingData AcquisitionTroubleshooting

Preferred

Unigraphics (NX)PythonJavaScriptHtml/css

Stack & domain

PythonJavaScriptHTMLCSSUnigraphics (NX)Finite Element Analysis (fea)Steel And/or Aluminum Weldment Design And AnalysisHigh Pressure (up To 30,000 Psi) Fluid System Design And AnalysisLithium-ion BatteriesBasic Test Instrumentation And Control ComponentsLeadershipCommunicationMechanical EngineeringFluid SystemsMechanismsStructuresElectromechanicalHigh PressureVacuum SystemsThermalHydraulicStructural And Mechanical First Principles Analysis

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
DEVELOPMENT TEST ENGINEER (STARLINK)
SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact. As we continue to upgrade and expand the constellation, we’re looking for best-in-class engineers to join the team.
Starlink Development Test is a fast-paced R&D focused group that aims to reduce hardware development time and increase reliability by testing Starlink’s next-generation hardware. Our Test Engineers design, fabricate, and implement test equipment as well as conduct development tests for the new structures, components, mechanisms, and more.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Create test stand concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists
Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms
Supervise the integration of test stands including fabrication, mechanical assembly and data/control systems
Operate test stands with great attention to detail (tests have very little margin for error, so attention to detail is a crucial and essential characteristic of a development test engineer)
Develop test requirements with the flight engineering team, develop a design solution that meets or exceeds those requirements, and drive the campaign to closure
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
1+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical structures and/or high-pressure systems
Academic research on mechanical structures
Professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Experience with hydraulic, thermal, structural, electromechanical, high pressure, and vacuum systems
Experience with basic test instrumentation and control components such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid valves, and encoders
Experience with Unigraphics (NX)
Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA)
Experience with steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis
Experience with high pressure (up to 30,000 psi) fluid system design and analysis
Experience working with lithium-ion batteries
Demonstrated understanding of structural and mechanical first principles analysis
Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation
Hands-on experience with testing, data acquisition, and troubleshooting issues
Hands-on design and fabrication experience
Basic programming skills (Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS preferred)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be willing to travel as needed, up to 25% to other SpaceX sites
Ability to work at elevated heights occasionally (scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts)
Must be comfortable standing, lifting, and carrying equipment up to 25 lbs. unassisted
Ability to work in outdoor environments as needed
Must be available to work extended hours and some weekends
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)