Mechanical Engineer, High-Rate Satellite Tooling & Controls

SpaceX; Redmond (WA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Performance bonuses

Health insurance

401(k)

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Commuter shuttle

Job summary

SpaceX in Redmond, WA is hiring a Mechanical Engineer - Tooling/Controls for Starlink satellites. You will own production tooling from development to production, designing automated systems, fixtures, and control architectures to scale high-rate manufacturing of flight hardware.

The role requires a mechanical/mechatronics background, experience with 3D CAD and controls, and a drive to solve precision, cycle-time, and yield challenges on the production floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, manufacturing, or related engineering/STEM discipline.
• 1+ years of experience designing mechanical systems using 3D CAD and 2D drawings.
• 1+ years of experience implementing controls on mechanical systems (motion, sensors, actuators, PLC or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Stand up internal high-rate optical fiber harness termination for Starlink, from development equipment to production-capable machinery.
• Design and develop tooling, fixtures, mechanisms, and automation equipment to terminate, assemble, and test flight hardware at rate.
• Own the electromechanical stack on the equipment you design: structure, motion, sensors, actuators, and machine controls, from concept through commissioning.
• Own projects through their full lifecycle — concept, fabrication, controls bring-up, and production introduction.
• Partner with flight harness responsible engineers, quality, and production to develop process and equipment in parallel with the product.
• Solve complex problems around precision alignment, process repeatability, cycle time, and first-pass yield.
• Assemble, wire, program, debug, and commission the equipment you design on the production floor.

Skills

3D CAD

Mechatronics

Controls

Automation

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Mechatronics

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

CAD/PDM systems

Job description

Mechanical Engineer - Tooling/Controls, Satellites (Starlink)

Redmond, WA

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.

As a member of the Starlink satellite mechanical team you will stand up the in-house, high-rate manufacturing tooling used to make custom optical fiber connections for Starlink. You will get to own the whole production system: establish requirements, processes, and design custom machinery to enable high-rate production. Using your expertise in mechanical design and machine controls, you will implement, simplify, and automate high-reliability manufacturing processes to scale production for a variety of Starlink vehicles. Your tooling will be used by different teams at Starlink spanning from operator-assisted stations to automated cells, and will build mission-critical hardware that is pivotal to the success of our next generation satellites.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Stand up internal high-rate optical fiber harness termination for Starlink, taking the process from development equipment to production-capable machinery
• Design and develop tooling, fixtures, mechanisms, and automation equipment to terminate, assemble, and test flight hardware at rate
• Own the electromechanical stack on the equipment you design: structure, motion, sensors, actuators, and machine controls, from concept through commissioning
• Own projects through their full lifecycle — concept, fabrication, controls bring-up, and production introduction
• Partner with flight harness responsible engineers, quality, and production to develop process and equipment in parallel with the product
• Solve complex problems around precision alignment, process repeatability, cycle time, and first-pass yield
• Assemble, wire, program, debug, and commission the equipment you design on the production floor

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, manufacturing, or a related engineering/STEM discipline
• 1+ years of experience designing mechanical systems using 3D CAD software and 2D drawings (internships, co-ops, and university projects can apply)
• 1+ years of experience implementing controls on mechanical systems - motion, sensors, actuators, PLC or equivalent (internships, co-ops, and university project can apply)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 3+ years of experience in custom machine design, production tooling, or automated assembly equipment
• Experience with electromechanical systems: motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings, pneumatics, sensors, and precision locating features
• Hands-on experience with machine controls: PLC or industrial motion controllers, servo/stepper systems, I/O, safety circuits, and HMI
• Familiarity with precision assembly processes — fiber optics, cable/harness build, potting/curing, or similarly tight-tolerance joining and inspection
• Ability to perform structures and mechanism hand calculations; design for manufacturability and assembly
• Familiarity with drafting standards and GD&T
• Solid understanding of common manufacturing processes (mills, lathes, CNC, sheet metal, welding) and hands-on build experience
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter, or equivalent CAD/PDM systems
• Experience with manufacturing process development, PFMEA, and error-proofing

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support mission critical deadlines

As a member of the Starlink satellite mechanical team you will stand up the in-house, high-rate manufacturing tooling used to make custom optical fiber connections for Starlink. You will get to own the whole production system: establish requirements, processes, and design custom machinery to enable high-rate production. Using your expertise in mechanical design and machine controls, you will implement, simplify, and automate high-reliability manufacturing processes to scale production for a variety of Starlink vehicles. Your tooling will be used by different teams at Starlink spanning from operator-assisted stations to automated cells, and will build mission-critical hardware that is pivotal to the success of our next generation satellites.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Stand up internal high-rate optical fiber harness termination for Starlink, taking the process from development equipment to production-capable machinery
• Design and develop tooling, fixtures, mechanisms, and automation equipment to terminate, assemble, and test flight hardware at rate
• Own the electromechanical stack on the equipment you design: structure, motion, sensors, actuators, and machine controls, from concept through commissioning
• Own projects through their full lifecycle — concept, fabrication, controls bring-up, and production introduction
• Partner with flight harness responsible engineers, quality, and production to develop process and equipment in parallel with the product
• Solve complex problems around precision alignment, process repeatability, cycle time, and first-pass yield
• Assemble, wire, program, debug, and commission the equipment you design on the production floor

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, manufacturing, or a related engineering/STEM discipline
• 1+ years of experience designing mechanical systems using 3D CAD software and 2D drawings (internships, co-ops, and university projects can apply)
• 1+ years of experience implementing controls on mechanical systems - motion, sensors, actuators, PLC or equivalent (internships, co-ops, and university project can apply)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 3+ years of experience in custom machine design, production tooling, or automated assembly equipment
• Experience with electromechanical systems: motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings, pneumatics, sensors, and precision locating features
• Hands-on experience with machine controls: PLC or industrial motion controllers, servo/stepper systems, I/O, safety circuits, and HMI
• Familiarity with precision assembly processes — fiber optics, cable/harness build, potting/curing, or similarly tight-tolerance joining and inspection
• Ability to perform structures and mechanism hand calculations; design for manufacturability and assembly
• Familiarity with drafting standards and GD&T
• Solid understanding of common manufacturing processes (mills, lathes, CNC, sheet metal, welding) and hands-on build experience
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter, or equivalent CAD/PDM systems
• Experience with manufacturing process development, PFMEA, and error-proofing

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support mission critical deadlines

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $135,000.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $165,000.00

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 in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

• 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] .

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at SpaceX? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

School * Select...

Degree * Select...

Select...

LinkedIn Profile

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Attach additional content you'd like us to review with your application. Please combine multiple attachments into a single .zip file.

How did you hear about this job? * Select...

If event or other, please specify below.

Please specify

GPA (Undergraduate) * Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your undergraduate GPA.

GPA (Graduate) * Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your graduate GPA.

GPA (Doctorate) * Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your doctorate GPA.

SAT Score * Select...

Please indicate your test score on the 1600 or 2400 scale. Select "Did not take" if you have not taken the SAT.

ACT Score * Select...

Select "Did not take" if you have not taken the ACT.

GRE Score * Select...

Active Security Clearance(s) * Select...

SpaceX & SpaceXAI Employment History * Select...

This includes internships and full-time employment.

Can you perform all of the essential functions of this role with or without reasonable accommodations? * Select...

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? * Select...

Select...

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITARhere.

If (f) Other, please explain:

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.