Development Test Engineer (Starlink)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Test Engineer for Starlink Development Test in Texas. You will design, fabricate, and operate test stands for next-generation hardware, ensuring reliability with tight margins. The role requires hands-on experience with hydraulic/structural systems, data acquisition, and a proactive, detail-oriented mindset.

Join a fast-paced, mission-driven team focused on space-grade hardware, with travel up to 25% and occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• 1+ years of experience in mechanical structures design and/or high-pressure systems.
• Experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition is a plus.

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

Skills

Hydraulic systems

Thermal systems

Structural analysis

Electromechanical systems

High pressure systems

Vacuum systems

Test instrumentation

Data acquisition

Troubleshooting

Hands-on fabrication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Unigraphics NX

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.

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

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
• 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 [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.