Starship PCB Designer: High-Speed Spaceflight Boards

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive medical coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a PCB Designer for the Starship program to craft complex PCB layouts, collaborating with hardware engineers from schematics to prototype bring-up. You will tackle multilayer stack-ups, high-speed routing, and RF/power integration for advanced spaceflight electronics.

The role requires strong experience in PCB design, ECAD libraries, and scripting, with a fast-paced, autonomous startup mindset. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits accompany the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering OR 3+ years of PCB layout experience.
• 2+ years of PCB layout and routing experience including high-density components.
• 1+ years of ECAD libraries experience and library configuration management.
• Understanding of design for manufacturability, assembly, and test.
• Experience with mixed analog/digital designs, high-speed buses, FPGA, DRAM, and CPU interfaces.
• Proficiency in Python or scripting for automating library tasks and data validation.
• Ability to visualize placement and interconnectivity; cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Determine layer stack-up, component placement, routing feasibility, and signal routing for digital, analog, RF, and power PCB designs.
• Perform multilayer PCB layout (20+ layers) with high-speed routing, impedance control, and power/ground planes.
• Conduct pre- and post-layout SI/PI simulations to mitigate crosstalk, reflections, and EMI/EMC issues.
• Execute DRC/ERC checks, peer reviews, and design audits; validate with hardware/firmware 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 internal teams and PCB vendors to refine design rules and test/validate designs.
• Create/verify symbols, footprints, and 3D models; manage libraries and 3D STEP models.
• Drive roadmap for SpaceX to integrate AI tools to improve PCB design efficiency.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, RF, and test engineers on stack-up, vias, shielding and enclosure integration.

Skills

PCB layout

RF components

High pin density

DFM/DFT

Cross-functional

Python scripting

3D modeling

System integration

Electrical engineering

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Mentor Xpedition

Altium Designer

Xpedition

ECAD libraries

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a PCB Designer for the Starship program to craft complex PCB layouts, collaborating with hardware engineers from schematics to prototype bring-up. You will tackle multilayer stack-ups, high-speed routing, and RF/power integration for advanced spaceflight electronics.

The role requires strong experience in PCB design, ECAD libraries, and scripting, with a fast-paced, autonomous startup mindset. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits accompany the position.