Senior Avionics Architect, Special Programs

Starlink; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision, dental coverage

Paid time off

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer (Special Programs) to lead architecture, integration, and test of avionics for new vehicles.

You will mentor engineers, drive system-level decisions, and own validation through launch readiness in a fast-paced environment. The role emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, rapid decision-making with partial data, and ownership of critical interfaces from design to flight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience with electrical component design, system-level integration of electronic components, or system-level testing.
• 2+ years of experience using software tools such as Python, MATLAB, or C++.

Responsibilities

• Lead avionics system architecture for new vehicles, including power, data, RF, and sensor topologies.
• Drive closure of vehicle electrical interfaces by working directly with other responsible engineers on structures, propulsion, GNC, software, and customer teams.
• Lead vehicle wiring diagram and harness architecture, and set integration standards for avionics boxes, sensors, and actuators.
• Drive system-level trades on mass, power, thermal, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule, and present recommendations to program leadership.
• Lead system-level integration and test, including integration lane checkouts and vehicle-level testing, and partner with the teams that own hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Define the avionics system verification strategy and lead the test campaigns that show the as-built vehicle is "go for launch".
• Lead root cause investigations on integrated-vehicle issues and drive corrective actions into the design.
• Support launch operations on console, including real-time troubleshooting and decision-making on the vehicle.
• Mentor systems engineers, review designs and test plans, and raise the technical standard of the team.
• Plan and lead system projects, including schedules, task ownership, and the internal and external resources required to support them.

Skills

System architecture leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Root cause analysis

Troubleshooting

Risk communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C++

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer (Special Programs) to lead architecture, integration, and test of avionics for new vehicles.

You will mentor engineers, drive system-level decisions, and own validation through launch readiness in a fast-paced environment. The role emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, rapid decision-making with partial data, and ownership of critical interfaces from design to flight.