Mechanical Engineer - Precision Optics for Satellites

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Redmond, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, & Dental benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Paid parental leave

3 weeks vacation + 10+ holidays

Company shuttle to Redmond

Job summary

SpaceX in Redmond, WA seeks a Mechanical Engineer - Optical to own the design of hardware for high-bandwidth connectivity and imaging on Starlink satellites. You will drive from concept to on-orbit operation, integrating precision mechanisms, actuators, and flight electronics.

You will collaborate with optical, electrical, thermal, and manufacturing teams, perform structural analyses, and contribute to manufacturability with design for assembly in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of CAD and mechanical design, analysis, testing, and/or manufacturing experience (internships/co-ops, research, and project experience)
• Strong understanding of GD&T and tolerance analysis

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical, electro-mechanical, and actuator hardware from conceptual design through production and on-orbit operation.
• Design precision mechanisms and actuators — gimbals, fast-steering stages, flexures, launch locks, and related kinematics.
• Develop structural designs and load paths for laser terminals or imaging payloads; perform and interpret structural analysis (static, modal, random vibration, shock) to close the design.
• Integrate electronics into flight hardware: PCBA packaging, thermal/mechanical interfaces, harnessing, connectors, and electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Rapidly iterate on design and analysis to inform system-level trades across mass, stiffness, pointing, cost, and manufacturability.
• Drive design for manufacturability and assembly for both high-volume Starlink terminals and lower-rate, higher-performance deep-space and imaging hardware.
• Create CAD models and drawings with GD&T; release designs into production and support the factory through ramp.
• Define and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing, including environmental test (vibe, shock, TVAC).
• Lead root-cause investigations on mechanical, electro-mechanical, and production issues and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with optical, electrical, thermal, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to deliver an integrated product.
• Own delivery timeline through conception, design, build, test, and launch.

Skills

CAD design

Mechanical analysis

Testing

Manufacturing

Precision actuators design

Gimbals & motion-control

Structural analysis (FEA)

Electronics packaging integration

3D CAD (NX)

GD&T application

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline

Tools

NX CAD

FEA software

Job description

SpaceX in Redmond, WA seeks a Mechanical Engineer - Optical to own the design of hardware for high-bandwidth connectivity and imaging on Starlink satellites. You will drive from concept to on-orbit operation, integrating precision mechanisms, actuators, and flight electronics.

You will collaborate with optical, electrical, thermal, and manufacturing teams, perform structural analyses, and contribute to manufacturability with design for assembly in a fast-paced aerospace environment.