Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Redmond (WA); 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

3 weeks of paid vacation

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP is looking for a Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer for its team in Redmond, WA. This position involves designing the future factory for mass satellite production, developing structures and automation equipment. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in engineering and over 5 years of Mechanical Engineering experience, particularly in CAD software and systems design. Benefits include a salary range of $130,000 - $180,000 per year, along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical coverage, vacation time, and more.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience designing mechanical systems using CAD software.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including CNC machining.

Responsibilities

• Design structures and automation equipment for production of satellites.
• Manage projects from concept through production.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external vendors.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

3D CAD software

Design for manufacturability

Custom machine design

Finite element analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

Tools

Siemens Unigraphics (UGS/NX)

ANSYS Workbench

Job description

Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

Redmond, WA

As a member of the Starlink Production Design team you will design the factory of the future, enabling mass production of satellites, ground stations, and high-performance space hardware that has never been produced in volume. You will design custom tooling and machinery for production processes that range from manual to highly automated. You will use your expertise in mechanical engineering to design, analyze, fabricate, qualify, and commission structures, mechanisms and automation equipment, optimizing for pace of execution and net impact to SpaceX. You will personally own high impact projects and drive them from concept to completion on a time scale measured in months, not years.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structures, mechanisms and automation equipment to enable high volume production of Starlink Satellites
• Demonstrate extreme ownership of projects through their entire lifecycle, from initial concept generation through fabrication and production bring-up
• Balance simultaneous projects of varying scope and complexity in a fast-paced environment
• Partner with flight design and production teams to develop the satellite, factory and production processes in parallel
• Solve complex, open-ended problems with an emphasis on speed of execution and efficiency
• Hone your organizational skills as you coordinate with internal SpaceX resources and external vendors and maintain a project schedule and budget
• Assemble and commission the equipment you design

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• 5+ years of professional experience in Mechanical Engineering
• Prior experience designing mechanical systems using 3D CAD software and 2D drawings

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Prior work experience with structural design and analysis
• Experience with custom machine design; electromechanical systems, motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings, lifting/rigging, etc.
• Ability to perform structures hand calculations
• Strong expertise in design for manufacturability and design for assembly including experience taking products from development to high-volume production
• Familiarity with drafting standards and the application of GD&T
• Solid understanding of common manufacturing processes and machines including mills, lathes, manual and CNC, and hands‑on machining experience
• Experience with Siemens Unigraphics (UGS/NX) and Teamcenter CAD/PDM systems
• Experience with finite element analysis, such as FEMAP pre/post processing, NASTRAN Solver, ANSYS Workbench, NX Advance Simulation
• Experience with manufacturing process development, facility and line layouts, process failure mode effects analysis, and error proofing

Additional Requirements

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range: $130,000 - $180,000 per year.

In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for long‑term incentives such as company stock or cash awards, and a discretionary bonus program. Benefits include comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays, and other company perks. Washington State employees accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

If you require reasonable accommodation of the application/interview process, please contact [e-mail].