Mechanical Engineer, Space Lasers Manufacturing (Starlink)

SpaceX
Redmond, US
On-site

Job Description

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.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, SPACE LASERS MANUFACTURING (STARLINK)

Engineers on this team must have a working knowledge of design, manufacturing, testing, and flight. A successful mechanical 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 products and subassemblies, and the team is frequently asked to tackle new, inter-departmental development projects. The ultimate goal of the team is to deliver the optical assemblies required for our satellites to achieve their mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage integration build flow and test operations

Evaluate proposed designs for manufacturability and integration

Interface with both engineers and technicians to optimize manufacturing and automation

Develop and refine manufacturing assembly procedures based on lessons learned

Enable day-to-day execution of product integration and test flow

Evaluate non-conformances to determine root cause and create actionable items and system improvements

Work with upstream and downstream partner teams to drive improvements at the system level

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline

1+ years of professional mechanical design or hands-on manufacturing experience (internships/co-ops and club projects can apply)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master's degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline

Experience with integration and testing of optical, mechanical, propulsion, thermal, electrical, and/or structural systems

Documentation and configuration management experience

Experience writing test plans and procedures and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale

Experience in a production environment

Demonstrated engineering intuition, critical thinking, and comfort with ambiguity

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Some travel to our launch sites may be required as needed, up to 10%

Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:                          

Pay range:          

Mechanical Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year  

Mechanical Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/per year            

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. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

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. 

Skills & Requirements

Technical Skills

Mechanical designManufacturingTestingFlightEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingManufacturing assembly proceduresProduct integrationTest operationsOptical assembliesSatellite missionsIntegration build flowManufacturing and automationManufacturing assembly proceduresManufacturing executionNon-conformancesRoot cause analysisSystem improvementsUpstream and downstream partner teamsSystem level improvementsIntegration and testingOptical systemsMechanical systemsPropulsion systemsThermal systemsElectrical systemsStructural systemsTest plansProceduresGo/no-go judgmentsRationaleProduction environmentEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingAmbiguityDesignManufacturingTestingFlightEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingManufacturing assembly proceduresProduct integrationTest operationsOptical assembliesSatellite missionsIntegration build flowManufacturing and automationManufacturing assembly proceduresManufacturing executionNon-conformancesRoot cause analysisSystem improvementsUpstream and downstream partner teamsSystem level improvementsIntegration and testingOptical systemsMechanical systemsPropulsion systemsThermal systemsElectrical systemsStructural systemsTest plansProceduresGo/no-go judgmentsRationaleProduction environmentEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingAmbiguityEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingAmbiguityDesignManufacturingTestingFlightEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingManufacturing assembly proceduresProduct integrationTest operationsOptical assembliesSatellite missionsIntegration build flowManufacturing and automationManufacturing assembly proceduresManufacturing executionNon-conformancesRoot cause analysisSystem improvementsUpstream and downstream partner teamsSystem level improvementsIntegration and testingOptical systemsMechanical systemsPropulsion systemsThermal systemsElectrical systemsStructural systemsTest plansProceduresGo/no-go judgmentsRationaleProduction environmentEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingAmbiguitySpace lasers manufacturingStarlinkMechanical engineeringDesignManufacturingTestingFlightEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingManufacturing assembly proceduresProduct integrationTest operationsOptical assembliesSatellite missionsIntegration build flowManufacturing and automationManufacturing assembly proceduresManufacturing executionNon-conformancesRoot cause analysisSystem improvementsUpstream and downstream partner teamsSystem level improvementsIntegration and testingOptical systemsMechanical systemsPropulsion systemsThermal systemsElectrical systemsStructural systemsTest plansProceduresGo/no-go judgmentsRationaleProduction environmentEngineering intuitionCritical thinkingAmbiguity

Employment Type

FULL TIME

Level

Mid-Level

Posted

4/22/2026

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