Development Test Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Development Test Engineer for the Starshield project. This role focuses on testing and increasing reliability of new products and systems. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in engineering, with a Master's preferred, and 1+ years of experience in mechanical structures. The position demands attention to detail and hands-on design skills, alongside a collaborative approach to engineering challenges. Competitive compensation includes salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 1+ years of relevant experience in mechanical structures.

Responsibilities

• Create test stand and equipment concepts and fabrication drawings.
• Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms.
• Supervise integration of test stands and operate them with attention to detail.

Skills

Mechanical structure design

Finite element analysis (FEA)

Python programming

GDT application

High pressure fluid systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

Tools

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 of enabling human life on Mars.

DEVELOPMENT TEST ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. As a Development Test Engineer, you will strive to reduce hardware development time and increase reliability by testing Starshield's upcoming products, ground systems, spacecraft, and subassemblies. Our Test Engineers design, fabricate, and implement test equipment as well as conduct development tests for the new structures, components, and mechanisms.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create test stand and equipment concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists
• Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms
• Coordinate with design engineering to determine what equipment to procure and maintain in the test lab
• Help train technicians and other engineers on test concepts and equipment use
• 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 skill in this role)
• Collaborate with dynamics and thermal engineers to ensure test equipment meets vehicle and environmental requirements

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
  • Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical structures
  • Academic research on mechanical structures
  • Professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures
• Understanding and proper application of GD&T
• Experience with NX
• Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA)
• Experience with large steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis
• Experience with high pressure (up to 30,000 psi) fluid system design and analysis
• Hands‑on design and fabrication experience
• Basic programming skills (Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS preferred)
• Data acquisition and controls experience
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion
• Experience using or setting up vibration test equipment
• Experience using temperature and vacuum test systems

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)
• Physical effort including 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 as needed to meet production goals
• This role is onsite and based in Hawthorne, CA, remote work not considered

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Development Test Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year
Development Test Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year

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 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.

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