Development Technician (PCBA) - 2nd Shift (Starlink)

Latent AI; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 31,684 - 55,104; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Three weeks of paid vacation

Company stock options

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Development Technician for the Starlink PCBA team in Redmond, WA. This role involves hands-on SMT expertise for transitioning hardware from development to production. Responsibilities include building and troubleshooting pre-production hardware, operating automated production machines, and supporting continuous improvement projects. Ideal candidates should have SMT/PCBA experience, strong troubleshooting skills, and the ability to operate SMT equipment. A high school diploma and 1+ years of hands-on experience are required.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of hands-on experience in SMT/PCBA manufacturing, assembly, or test.
• Ability to program, load, and operate SMT production machines.
• Experience troubleshooting complex issues with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Support production engineering during development phases by testing pre-production PCBA hardware.
• Assist with PCBA line setup and transition of new designs into production.
• Document processes and improvements using data to drive corrective actions.

Skills

SMT/PCBA experience

Troubleshooting skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Associate's degree

Tools

Automated SMT production machines

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

DEVELOPMENT TECHNICIAN (PCBA) - 2nd Shift

This role serves as the bridge between production execution and engineering development for the Starlink PCBA team. You will apply hands‑on SMT expertise to support the transition of hardware from early development through qualification and into rate production. Working closely with Engineering and Production teams, you will build and troubleshoot pre‑production and qualification hardware while helping optimize SMT processes and production lines.

The ideal candidate: has strong SMT/PCBA experience; enjoys working directly with engineers; proven skills for troubleshooting complex issues; possesses excellent attention to detail; and thrives in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities.

RESPONIBILITIES

• Support production engineering during development and pre‑production phases by building, assembling, and testing pre‑production, qualification, and flight PCBA hardware
• Assist with initial PCBA line setup, equipment programming, qualification of test setups, and transition of new designs into production
• Program, load, and operate automated SMT production machines including pick & place, reflow ovens, stencil printers, conformal coating, AOI, and X‑ray systems
• Operate and troubleshoot SMT equipment (pick & place, reflow ovens, stencil printers, conformal coating, AOI, X‑ray) with a focus on process stability and yield improvement
• Perform rework and recovery on non‑conforming hardware while maintaining design integrity and documenting root causes
• Support continuous improvement projects including test rack builds, factory automation, and production line enhancements
• Thoroughly document processes, failures, and improvements using data to drive corrective actions and yield increases
• Provide surge support for critical production, qualification, or development builds
• Collaborate with engineers to give real‑time feedback on manufacturability, DFM opportunities, and process issues
• Assist with training of junior technicians on SMT equipment operation and basic troubleshooting
• Work with production support teams to guarantee the daily success of PCBA production safely, reliably, and at rate

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 1+ years of hands‑on experience in SMT/PCBA manufacturing, assembly, or test

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Associates degree, apprenticeship, or military electronics technician training
• Experience working directly with engineers in development or new process introduction (NPI) environments
• Hands‑on experience programming and optimizing SMT processes (pick & place, reflow, conformal coating, through‑hole, AOI, or X‑ray inspection)
• Proficiency reading and interpreting schematics, assembly drawings, Gerber files, and work instructions
• Soldering experience with IPC‑A‑610 or J‑STD‑001 certification (Class 2 or 3)
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills with minimal supervision
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and basic ERP systems
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to identify subtle defects and maintain high‑quality output in a high‑volume environment
• Positive attitude, strong team player, and willingness to provide constructive feedback to improve designs and tooling
• Previous aerospace, automotive, or high‑reliability electronics manufacturing experience

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay range:
Production Development Technician/Level 1: $23.00 - $29.00/hour
Production Development Technician/Level 2: $28.00 - $34.50/hour
Production Development Technician/Level 3: $33.00 - $40.00/hour

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.