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.
TEST ENGINEER, COMPUTE PAYLOAD (STARMIND)
SpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world’s largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Realizing this vision demands highly reliable, high performance compute hardware systems which must operate in the extreme environment of space.
The Starmind team designs, builds, and operates the orbital compute fabric of the future. We develop nearly every key piece of technology in house – from the satellites’ flight computers and power systems to the fully custom compute electronics, memory, and networking that form the brain of our on-orbit data centers. As a Test Engineer on the Starmind Compute Payload team, you’ll have ownership over how we validate the hardware that enables advanced on-orbit AI processing and data center workloads.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and implement test processes which seamlessly integrate into electro-mechanical assembly line with rapid iteration
- Manage physical infrastructure of test integration and operations
- Interface with engineers, specialists and technicians to optimize testing operations
- Collaborate with the mechanical design team and end users to incorporate designs for test optimization
- Lead development tests ensuring incremental milestones for the production ramp are met
- Track manufacturing system key metrics around rate, cost, and quality
- Identify tooling and hardware requirements, design and implement them into production processes. Rapidly iterate by evaluating non-conformances to determine root cause and drive test optimization
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing or test environment via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Demonstrated experience working in a highly adaptive and iterative environment
- Experience with integration and testing of propulsion, thermal, electrical and/or structural systems
- Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and test validation, and scaling to high volume as part of a cross-functional team
- Proficiency in NX/CATIA/SolidWorks or any industry standard CAD design tools
- Experience with process qualifications
- Ability to design tooling for high-volume manufacturing
- Demonstrated experience implementing automation into test processes
- Experience working with and defining requirements for ERP, MRP, and MES systems
- Knowledge and experience with testing of pressurized fluid/gas systems
- Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs.
- Ability to travel for short and extended trips as needed - up to 15% travel
- This position is very hands-on and requires one to be on their feet for extended periods of time, up to 4 hours at a time
- Will often work side by side with our technicians and must be able to climb ladders, stoop, bend, crawl, and work in tight spaces
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 an engineering discipline
- At least 1 year of experience in a manufacturing or test environment through professional work, project or research-based student experience, or a combination
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
- Ability to travel for short and extended trips as needed, up to 15%
- Ability to stand for extended periods, up to 4 hours at a time
- Ability to climb ladders, stoop, bend, crawl, and work in tight spaces
- U.S. citizenship or national, lawful permanent resident status, refugee or asylee status, or eligibility to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations under ITAR
- Experience in highly adaptive and iterative environments
- Experience integrating and testing propulsion, thermal, electrical, or structural systems
- Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and test validation and scaling production
- Proficiency with NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or industry-standard CAD tools
- Experience with process qualifications
- Ability to design tooling for high-volume manufacturing
- Experience implementing automation into test processes
- Experience defining requirements for ERP, MRP, and MES systems
- Knowledge of testing pressurized fluid or gas systems
- Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition
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.
