Development Test Engineer - Space Hardware & Test

SpaceX; Texas; On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Development Test Engineer for Starlink in the United States to design, fabricate, and operate test stands for next‑generation hardware. You will work with the flight engineering team to define test requirements and drive campaigns to closure.

The role emphasizes hands‑on fabrication, data acquisition, and experience with high‑pressure systems, hydraulics, and structural analysis, with travel up to 25% to SpaceX sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• 1+ years of experience in one or more of: extracurricular project team designing/building mechanical structures/high-pressure systems.
• Academic research on mechanical structures or professional experience designing/analyzing mechanical structures.

Responsibilities

• Create test stand concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists.
• Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms.
• Supervise integration of test stands including fabrication, mechanical assembly, and data/control systems.
• Operate test stands with high attention to detail.
• Develop test requirements with flight engineering and drive campaigns to closure.

Skills

Hydraulic systems

Thermal systems

Structural systems

Electromechanical

High pressure systems

Vacuum systems

Lithium-ion batteries

FEA

Welding design

Data acquisition

Python

JavaScript

HTML/CSS

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Unigraphics (NX)

Test instrumentation hardware

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

DEVELOPMENT TEST ENGINEER (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 millions of 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.

Starlink Development Test is a fast-paced R&D focused group that aims to reduce hardware development time and increase reliability by testing Starlink's next-generation hardware. Our Test Engineers design, fabricate, and implement test equipment as well as conduct development tests for the new structures, components, mechanisms, and more.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create test stand concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists


• Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms


• Supervise the integration of test stands including fabrication, mechanical assembly and data/control systems


• Operate test stands with great attention to detail (tests have very little margin for error, so attention to detail is a crucial and essential characteristic of a development test engineer)


• Develop test requirements with the flight engineering team, develop a design solution that meets or exceeds those requirements, and drive the campaign to closure

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering


• 1+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
  
  
  
  • Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical structures and/or high-pressure systems
  
  
  • Academic research on mechanical structures
  
  
  • Professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures
  
  
  
  

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with hydraulic, thermal, structural, electromechanical, high pressure, and vacuum systems


• Experience with basic test instrumentation and control components such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid valves, and encoders


• Experience with Unigraphics (NX)


• Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA)


• Experience with steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis


• Experience with high pressure (up to 30,000 psi) fluid system design and analysis


• Experience working with lithium-ion batteries


• Demonstrated understanding of structural and mechanical first principles analysis


• Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation


• Hands-on experience with testing, data acquisition, and troubleshooting issues


• Hands-on design and fabrication experience


• Basic programming skills (Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS preferred)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel as needed, up to 25% to other SpaceX sites


• Ability to work at elevated heights occasionally (scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts)


• Must be comfortable standing, lifting, and carrying equipment up to 25 lbs. unassisted


• Ability to work in outdoor environments as needed


• Must be available to work extended hours and some weekends

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 [e-mail].