Senior PCB Designer: Starship Electronics

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Senior PCB Designer for the Starship program in Hawthorne, CA. You will lead layout for in-house boards, collaborate with hardware engineers, and iterate designs from concept to production.

You’ll contribute to high-density, RF and power designs, ensure manufacturability, and drive process improvements using Altium/Mentor Xpedition tooling, while supporting a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience with PCB layout.
• Experience with RF components, fine-pitch packages, or high pin-density components.
• 2+ years with ECAD libraries and library configuration management.
• Experience with Altium Designer and/or Mentor Xpedition.
• Knowledge of design for manufacturability, assembly, and test.
• Python scripting for automating library tasks and data extraction.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Determine layer stack-up, package selection, placement, routing for digital, analog, RF, and power PCB designs.
• Perform multilayer PCB layout (20+ layers) with high-speed routing and impedance control.
• Conduct pre- and post-layout SI/PI simulations to mitigate crosstalk and EMI/EMC.
• Run DRC/ERC checks, peer reviews, and design audits with HW/FW engineers.
• Produce fabrication outputs (Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, drill files, stack-up drawings).
• Analyze manufacturability and incorporate feedback to reduce costs and improve yield.
• Collaborate with PCB vendors to improve design rules and test guidelines.
• Create, update, and maintain PCB libraries including symbols, footprints, and 3D models.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, RF, and test engineers on stack-up planning and thermal vias.
• Assist librarians with library tasks and 3D models in CAD tools like Altium and Xpedition.
• Drive the roadmap to incorporate AI tools for PCB design tasks.

Skills

PCB layout

RF components

Fine pitch / high pin density

ECAD libraries

Altium Designer

Mentor Xpedition

DFM/ DFA

Python scripting

Cross-functional collaboration

Start-up pace

Verbal and written communication

Tools

Altium Designer

Mentor Xpedition

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Senior PCB Designer for the Starship program in Hawthorne, CA. You will lead layout for in-house boards, collaborate with hardware engineers, and iterate designs from concept to production.

You’ll contribute to high-density, RF and power designs, ensure manufacturability, and drive process improvements using Altium/Mentor Xpedition tooling, while supporting a fast-paced startup environment.