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.
DEVELOPMENT TEST ENGINEER (STARLINK)
SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact. As we continue to upgrade and expand the constellation, we’re looking for best-in-class engineers to join the team.
Starlink Development Test is a fast-paced R&D focused group that aims to reduce hardware development time and increase reliability by testing Starlink’s next-generation hardware. Our Test Engineers design, fabricate, and implement test equipment as well as conduct development tests for the new structures, components, mechanisms, and more.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create test stand concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists
- Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms
- Supervise the integration of test stands including fabrication, mechanical assembly and data/control systems
- Operate test stands with great attention to detail (tests have very little margin for error, so attention to detail is a crucial and essential characteristic of a development test engineer)
- Develop test requirements with the flight engineering team, develop a design solution that meets or exceeds those requirements, and drive the campaign to closure
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
- 1+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
- Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical structures and/or high-pressure systems
- Academic research on mechanical structures
- Professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience with hydraulic, thermal, structural, electromechanical, high pressure, and vacuum systems
- Experience with basic test instrumentation and control components such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid valves, and encoders
- Experience with Unigraphics (NX)
- Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA)
- Experience with steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis
- Experience with high pressure (up to 30,000 psi) fluid system design and analysis
- Experience working with lithium-ion batteries
- Demonstrated understanding of structural and mechanical first principles analysis
- Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation
- Hands-on experience with testing, data acquisition, and troubleshooting issues
- Hands-on design and fabrication experience
- Basic programming skills (Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS preferred)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to travel as needed, up to 25% to other SpaceX sites
- Ability to work at elevated heights occasionally (scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts)
- Must be comfortable standing, lifting, and carrying equipment up to 25 lbs. unassisted
- Ability to work in outdoor environments as needed
- Must be available to work extended hours and some weekends
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- 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.
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 Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
- At least 1 year of experience designing and building mechanical structures or high-pressure systems through extracurricular projects, academic research, or professional work
- Willingness to travel up to 25% to other SpaceX sites
- Ability to work occasionally at elevated heights using scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts
- Ability to stand, lift, and carry equipment up to 25 pounds unassisted
- Ability to work outdoors as needed
- Availability for extended hours and some weekends
- Experience with hydraulic, thermal, structural, electromechanical, high-pressure, and vacuum systems
- Experience with test instrumentation and control components
- Experience with Unigraphics NX
- Experience performing finite element analysis
- Experience with steel or aluminum weldment design and analysis
- Experience designing and analyzing fluid systems up to 30,000 psi
- Experience working with lithium-ion batteries
- Understanding of structural and mechanical first-principles analysis
- Full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept through implementation
- Hands-on testing, data acquisition, troubleshooting, design, and fabrication experience
- Basic programming skills, preferably Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
