Electrical Engineer (Starlink Optical)

Future Ventures; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking an Electrical Engineer (Starlink Optical) to design, validate, and debug high-speed PCB assemblies for optical hardware. You will work with senior engineers on board bring-up, signal integrity, and test infrastructure to enable production-scale systems.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration across firmware, mechanical, optical, and manufacturing teams, and requires a Bachelor’s in electrical engineering with hardware design experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
• Experience designing circuits, electronic products, or hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design and support multilayer PCB assemblies for high-speed optical hardware.
• Assist schematic capture and PCB layout with guidance, applying impedance routing and SI best practices.
• Support board bring-up, electrical validation, and lab debugging for prototype and production hardware.
• Perform signal integrity validation using lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, VNAs, TDR, logic analyzers) and correlate measurements to design intent.
• Support development of evaluation platforms for new silicon, interconnect, and photonic components.
• Contribute to end-of-line test infrastructure, including test fixture design, firmware flashing workflows, and automated validation sequences.
• Work cross-functionally with firmware, mechanical, optical, and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure electrical designs support system integration and production scalability.
• Support electrical documentation, including schematics, BOMs, assembly drawings, and test procedures

Skills

PCB design

Signal integrity

Python

C/C++

FPGA

Mixed-signal design

Lab instrumentation

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

VNAs

TDR

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.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (STARLINK OPTICAL)

Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet to serve populations with little or no connectivity. We design, build, launch, and operate the world's largest constellation of satellites, enabling us to operate a global internet network unbounded by traditional ground infrastructure limitations. Starlink also designs, builds, and delivers high-volume consumer hardware that allows users to connect to these satellites within minutes of unboxing, as well as our advanced gateways that we deploy regionally throughout the world. The root of SpaceX’s success so far lies in our mission to keep all engineering and production in-house, which enables a tight feedback loop, nimble decision‑making, and speedy deliverables. With millions of daily users worldwide already online, Starlink is truly a game‑changer and levels the playing field for those who were previously unconnected.

Our products integrate precision optics and advanced packaging. The electrical systems that drive, control, and test them must meet the same performance and manufacturability bar. We are seeking Electrical Engineers to design, validate, and debug high‑speed PCB assemblies across our optical hardware platform. You will work closely with senior engineers to support board bring‑up, signal integrity validation, and development of the test infrastructure required for production.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and support multilayer PCB assemblies for high‑speed optical hardware, including power delivery, signal routing, and connector/interface selection
• Assist with schematic capture and PCB layout under senior engineering guidance, applying controlled impedance routing and signal integrity best practices
• Support board bring‑up, electrical validation, and lab debugging for prototype and production hardware
• Perform signal integrity validation using lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, VNAs, TDR, logic analyzers) and correlate measurements to design intent
• Support development of evaluation platforms for new silicon, interconnect, and photonic components
• Contribute to end‑of‑line test infrastructure, including test fixture design, firmware flashing workflows, and automated validation sequences
• Work cross‑functionally with firmware, mechanical, optical, and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure electrical designs support system integration and production scalability
• Support electrical documentation, including schematics, BOMs, assembly drawings, and test procedures

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
• Experience designing circuits, electronic products, or hardware

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or similar engineering degree
• 2+ years of professional experience rapidly designing and delivering highly reliable products
• 2+ years of electronic product experience designing hardware from concept through production; strong emphasis on full life cycle development of new hardware products and not small incremental updates to legacy hardware
• 2+ years of experience designing and implementing mixed‑signal circuit boards from concept through production using processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, multi‑GHz Serdes, DRAM interfaces (DDR4), I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, and power supply components
• 2+ years of professional experience testing, troubleshooting, and debugging electronics
• Strong understanding of computers and programming languages (Python, C/C++)
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross‑functional role

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines

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 Affirmitive Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].