Lead Development Test Engineer (Starlink)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Lead Development Test Engineer to oversee a team responsible for development and qualification test of satellite hardware. You will own design, activation, safety, and reliability of thermal, fluids, chamber, structural, and vibration test capability across HASS, HALT, TVAC, and static/dynamic tests.

You will drive large-scale hardware test programs from concept to implementation, define processes, and ensure systems meet safety, reliability, and performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of hands-on design, analysis, build, and test.
• 2+ year leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers enabling rapid hardware development through test — thermal, fluids, environmental chambers, structural, vibration, and dynamic test.
• Oversee and own development-focused thermal chambers (HASS / HALT) and TVAC campaigns with hardware, fixturing, profiles, instrumentation, controls/dashboards, safety.
• Oversee structural, vibration, pressure, and related mechanical test: test article and stand configuration, boundary conditions, schematics, CONOPS.
• Act as technical decision maker and advisor to the team.
• Coach and develop direct reports; set clear goals.
• Develop, document, and implement cross-functional testing solutions (capability, coverage, safety).
• Design and implement GSE: fixtures, automated test equipment, facilities infrastructure.
• Operate and activate stands with engineers and technicians; partner with Development Operations for fab.

Skills

CAD

FEA

FEM

Python

C++

SQL

PLC

Mentoring

Leadership

Test automation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

EPLAN

Job description

Bastrop, TX

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 looking for a Lead Development Test Engineer to oversee a team responsible for development and qualification test of satellite hardware in Bastrop. This individual owns design, activation, safety, and reliability of thermal, fluids, chamber, structural, and vibration test capability (HASS, HALT, TVAC, static/dynamic/vibe). The role spans design, analysis, and manufacturing. You will take large-scope projects from early trades through implementation, define processes, drive requirements, and activate systems that meet the bar.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a team of engineers enabling rapid hardware development through test — thermal, fluids, environmental chambers, structural, vibration, and dynamic test
• Oversee and own development-focused thermal chambers (HASS / HALT) and, as capability stands up, TVAC — hardware, fixturing, profiles, instrumentation, controls/dashboards, safety
• Oversee structural, vibration, pressure, and related mechanical test: test article and stand configuration, boundary conditions, schematics, CONOPS
• Act as technical decision maker and advisor to the team
• Coach and develop direct reports; set clear goals
• Develop, document, and implement cross-functional testing solutions (capability, coverage, safety)
• Design and implement GSE: fixtures, automated test equipment, facilities infrastructure
• Operate and activate stands with engineers and technicians; partner with Development Operations for fab (you do not own technician people ops)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
• 3+ years of hands-on design, analysis, build, and test
• 2+ year leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 2+ years of experience with CAD, FEA, and/or FEM
• Professional test experience (development test, environmental test, qual, or I&T)
• Experience with thermal HASS and/or HALT chambers (ran, specified, or owned campaigns)
• Experience with structural and/or vibration testing (static, dynamic, vibe, or equivalent)
• TVAC / thermal-vacuum campaigns (owned or operated)
• Both thermal-chamber and structural/vibe campaigns (not only one)
• Design, build, and activation of fluids, thermal, vacuum, structural, or electromechanical systems
• Full-cycle ownership of a hardware or test campaign from concept through implementation
• Hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, fluids)
• Automation / scripting (Python, C++, SQL, PLC)
• NX, SolidWorks, EPLAN
• Strong desire to mentor and develop engineers

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willing to work weekends and extended hours as needed
• 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 Aff… 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.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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.