Power Electronics Engineer (Starship)

SpaceX
Hawthorne, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to mid-level electrical engineers with hands-on experience in high-reliability power systems working in aerospace and space exploration.

Best fit for

  • Mid-level engineers with experience in power converter design and high-speed digital applications
    — “Experience with circuit board layout, especially for switching power converters or high-speed digital applications
  • Candidates who have worked on fundamentally new hardware and optimized power distribution
    — “Experience developing fundamentally new hardware, not just incrementally updating legacy hardware
  • Individuals with a background in fault tolerance and reliability engineering for aerospace systems
    — “Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability

Things to consider

  • Must be eligible for U.S. Government export regulations, which limits candidate pool
    — “To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national...
  • Role requires meeting mission-critical deadlines, potentially involving extended hours or weekends
    — “Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with custom magnetics and transformer design in your resume and interviews
    — “Previous experience working with magnetics and design of custom transformers and inductors
  • Demonstrate your ability to drive system-level design trades and requirements capture
    — “Work on electrical power system and sub-system level design trades and develop requirements
  • Showcase your skills in automating hardware development functions through scripting or tools
    — “Experience with automating hardware development functions (e.g. scripting to control benchtop equipment)
  • Emphasize your grasp of DC-DC topologies and component selection for optimal architectures
    — “Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components
  • Demonstrate familiarity with EMI/EMC compliance and testing in harsh environments
    — “Familiarity with power supply testing and packaging for harsh environments
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Junior

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

What success looks like

  • successful power system design
  • high-reliability electronics
Typical background
electrical engineering degreeelectronics design experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Power ElectronicsDc-dc ConvertersPower DistributionHigh-reliability Design

Preferred

Spacecraft SystemsEmc Compliance

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 (STARSHIP)

The Starship electrical hardware development team supports the mission to revolutionize orbital flight and space travel- opening access for humankind to establish new frontiers in space and ultimately become a multi-planetary species. Our team builds some of the most advanced electronics ever flown in space- at a cost and rate previously considered unthinkable in the space industry. Become a part of this fast moving and world class hardware development team, work with super smart and motivated engineers, and achieve truly audacious goals. If you’re ready for a challenge and would like to help make our civilization multi-planetary then you’ve come to the right place!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Rapidly develop high-reliability electronics for rockets and spacecraft

Drive system trades, requirements capture, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, documentation, manufacturing, and test

Design, analyze, and test DC-DC power converters and power distribution products for harsh environments

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

Work with experts from other teams and departments to drive changes that make the system more efficient, manufacturable, and reliable. Challenge assumptions and build strong professional relationships.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or similar discipline

1+ years of experience designing, building, or testing circuit boards or other electronics (research, internships and extracurricular academic projects qualify)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Passion for spaceflight and curiosity for electronics in high-reliability applications

Excitement for making systems smarter, better, faster, cheaper

Experience making products or systems work with minimal time and resources

Experience developing fundamentally new hardware, not just incrementally updating legacy hardware

Experience with circuit board layout, especially for switching power converters or high-speed digital applications

Experience designing switching power converters, power magnetics, analog control loops, solid state load switches, motor inverters, EMI/EMC compliance, or sensor signal conditioning circuits

Experience with high voltage devices, lithium ion batteries, or power distribution optimization

Previous experience working with magnetics and design of custom transformers and inductors, including planar magnetics

Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of power electronics

Working experience in voltage and current mode control and compensation design

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 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

Experience with circuit board design-for-manufacturing or productization of electronics

Experience with automating hardware development functions (e.g. scripting to control benchtop equipment or to accelerate analysis or simulation)

Ability to work in a fast-paced and autonomously driven environment

Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

 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 - $140,000.00

Level 2: $120,000.00 - $170,000.00

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, 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 accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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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