Power Electronics Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

SpaceX
Redmond, WA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Power electronics engineers with experience in high-voltage systems and spacecraft environments will find this technical role in satellite broadband systems development at SpaceX.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience in power converter design for extreme conditions and a background in aerospace or related domains
    — “design, analysis, and testing of DC-DC power converters for harsh environments”
  • Professionals who have worked on fault-tolerant power systems and can navigate complex electrical architectures
    — “Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability”
  • Engineers with a strong grasp of power electronics simulation and testing in high-stakes environments
    — “Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of power electronics”

Things to consider

  • Applicants must be eligible for U.S. export authorizations due to ITAR restrictions
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident”
  • The role may require extended hours or weekends to meet mission-critical deadlines
    — “Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with high-voltage power systems and radiation effects in your resume and interviews
    — “Familiarity with spacecraft electrical power systems and knowledge of radiation effects”
  • Emphasize your ability to work on multidisciplinary teams and translate requirements into hardware designs
    — “Work with multidisciplinary teams of design, test, and production engineers”
  • Showcase your hands-on experience with power supply testing and packaging for extreme environments
    — “Familiarity with power supply testing and packaging for harsh environments”
  • Demonstrate your understanding of DC-DC topologies and component selection in your application materials
    — “Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • design and develop power conversion and control systems for Starlink satellites
  • work on electrical power system and sub-system level design trades
  • define and perform electrical power system verification testing and analysis
Typical background
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline1+ years of professional experience in power converter development

Skills & requirements

Required

Power Converter DevelopmentAnalog ControlDiscrete Logic DesignModeling And SimulationTesting Of Power ElectronicsDesign For Fault Tolerance And ReliabilityFailure Mode Effects And Criticality AnalysisSpacecraft Electrical Power SystemsSolar Arrays As Input Power SourcesLithium-ion Battery Handling

Preferred

Ac-dc ConvertersPower Factor CorrectionDc-dc TopologiesImpedance MeasurementLoop-gain Measurement

Stack & domain

SpacecraftSatellitesPower Electronics

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.

POWER ELECTRONICS ENGINEER, SATELLITES (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 10M+ 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.

Our Power Electronics team designs and develops the power conversion and control systems at the heart of the Starlink satellites and portions of the ground systems - enabling the high-speed, low-latency broadband internet service provided by Starlink across the globe. As a member of the team, your designs will run the gamut from low voltage to kV range, and powers from 1W to many kW (other applications include solar/MPPT, battery, motors/actuators, ion propulsion, laser optical links, and other vehicle systems).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide engineering expertise in design, analysis, and testing of DC-DC power converters for harsh environments

Work on electrical power system and sub-system level design trades and develop requirements

Define and perform electrical power system verification testing and analysis

Work with multidisciplinary teams of design, test, and production engineers to create new power electronics hardware

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline 

1+ years of professional experience in power converter development 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Strong grasp of analog control and discrete logic design

Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of power electronics

Working experience in voltage and current mode control and compensation design

Experience with AC-DC converters and power factor correction

Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components

Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability

Familiar with failure mode effects and criticality analysis

Familiarity with design of wire wound and planar inductors and transformers

Familiarity with power supply testing and packaging for harsh environments

Experience with in-lab impedance measurement and loop-gain measurement

Familiarity with spacecraft electrical power systems and knowledge of radiation effects

Familiarity with solar arrays as input power sources

Familiarity with lithium-ion battery handling, safety, and usage

 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Level 1: $105,000.00 - $145,000.00

Level 2: $120,000.00 - $175,000.00

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 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. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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