Mission Manager, Space Lasers (Starshield)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Hawthorne seeks a Mission Manager for its space lasers team. In this role, you'll own the design, testing, and operation of the Starshield Mini Space Laser, working closely with government partners. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field and 5+ years of relevant experience in laser technology. Responsibilities include developing communication systems and ensuring compliance with security protocols. This role offers a competitive salary range of $130,000 to $180,000 annually, along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in laser technology or relevant fields.
• Active Top Secret or equivalent clearance required.
• Hands-on experience in optical design and system integration.

Responsibilities

• Design, test, and integrate laser communication systems.
• Define requirements for high-data-rate communication systems.
• Act as primary contact for government relations regarding space lasers.

Skills

Laser technology

Electromechanical systems

Computer programming (C++, LabVIEW, Python)

Optical design

Communication systems knowledge

Risk assessment

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Master's degree or PhD in a STEM field

Tools

Laser communication systems

Optics testing equipment

Job description

Mission Manager, Space Lasers (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA

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.

MISSION MANAGER, SPACE LASERS (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.

SpaceX is looking to hire a Mission Manager to work with our brilliant and passionate space lasers team. In this role, you will own the design, testing, integration and on-orbit operations for the Starshield Mini Space Laser. These Lasers are designed for seamless integration with satellite manufacturers’ spacecraft to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity on orbit, enabling real-time tasking, continuous command-and-control, and immediate data delivery to terrestrial points of presence.

Responsibilities

• Apply expertise to laser communication system development, including design, analysis, and validation.
• Act as the primary point of contact for space lasers definition, requirements, and development.
• Act as the representative of Starshield space lasers to the US Government, and as the responsible owner within SpaceX.
• Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing.
• Represent the laser communications system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution.
• Define requirements for high-data-rate laser communication systems in challenging environmental conditions.
• Interface with engineering, manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be produced in accordance with overall project goals.
• Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors.
• Ensure on-time deliverables, risk mitigation, and mission success.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline.
• 5+ years of hands‑on laboratory or professional work experience in laser technology, electrical or mechanical systems, or testing.
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering or STEM discipline.
• Experience in designing, testing and implementing circuit boards or mechanical components.
• Experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, LabVIEW, and/or Python).
• Knowledge of digital communication systems including spread spectrum, forward error correction, and modulation types such as QPSK, QAM, PCM/FM, and PAM.
• Experience with mixed‑signal circuits, processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, DRAM interfaces (DDR4), I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, and power supply components.
• Hands‑on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of laser communication systems.
• Knowledge of and experience in lasers, photodiodes, fiber optics, optics testing/troubleshooting techniques, and signal integrity principles.
• Knowledge of and experience in free‑space optical principles, optical component testing/troubleshooting techniques, precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes.
• Experience leading development of commercial communications products.
• Experience with hardware development for high‑reliability applications.
• Ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere.
• Experience with infrared system alignment and characterization.
• Competence with Python scripting and a Linux operating system environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.
• Must pass DoD-level background checks for entry into various government facilities.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• 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.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range:
Mission Manager/: $130,000.00 - $180,000.00/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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $15,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

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, stock options, 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.

Equal Opportunity

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

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