Aviation Connectivity Architect - Cabin Wi‑Fi Lead

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr Aviation Development Engineer to drive the next-generation passenger cabin environment. You will own cabin connectivity architecture, design HITL lab representations, and translate lab data into scalable architectural decisions across fleets.

You will collaborate with airline partners, manage requirements, and ensure compliance with regulatory and customer needs while delivering a multi-gigabit Starlink experience aboard flights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering or technical program management experience.
• Experience with aerospace programs or airline cabin connectivity is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own cabin connectivity architecture for assigned airline programs: access-point placement, band/channel plan, frequency reuse, client density, QoS, backhaul to Starlink terminal.
• Specify and drive next-generation passenger-cabin Wi-Fi requirements (Wi-Fi 6/6E vs Wi-Fi 7, multi-AP coordination, MLO, 6 GHz use in cabin).
• Design, stand up, and operate HITL lab environments that represent airline cabins: routers/APs, client devices, authentication backends, traffic generators, RF fixtures.

Skills

Wi-Fi design

IP networking

Wi-Fi standards 802.11

HITL lab experience

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Project management

Aircraft cabin experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline

Tools

RADIUS

Captive portal / 802.1X

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Sr Aviation Development Engineer to drive the next-generation passenger cabin environment. You will own cabin connectivity architecture, design HITL lab representations, and translate lab data into scalable architectural decisions across fleets.

You will collaborate with airline partners, manage requirements, and ensure compliance with regulatory and customer needs while delivering a multi-gigabit Starlink experience aboard flights.