Job Information
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Principal Electrical Engineer (Starlink) in Redmond, Washington
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. PRINCIPAL ELECTRICAL DESIGN 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 3M+ 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. As a Principal Electrical Design Engineer on Starlink, you'll have complete ownership over the hardware that enables this connectivity, and sits at the intersection of electrical, mechanical, thermal analysis, software, and antenna engineering. There are several sub-teams within the larger Starlink hardware engineering group at our Redmond facility, each with a different area of focus. These range from high-speed digital communication, network system integration, power systems integration, RF systems, avionics, network computers, power electronics, failure analysis, on-orbit reliability, and testing automation. Your placement on these teams will be determined throughout the interviewing process after factoring in technical fit, expertise, and your personal preference. Sub-teams include: Satellite Payload - design and implementation of RF systems, high-speed digital communication, and high-density power conversion hardware to the host design Satellite Bus and Avionics - design, development, and test of space-hardened avionics hardware Gateways - design, build, and test electronics for the world's largest network of ground stations, which function as an intermediary between the satellites and our end-users to ensure smooth data transfer and transmission Hardware Test and Factory Automation - design validation and testing from initial concept development to full-scale production Failure Analysis - root cause analysis of systemic production issues to drive design and process changes for improving product quality On-Orbit Reliability - monitor and support health of satellite electronics while in orbit, leading anomaly investigations, and performing lab experiments to replicate findings in orbit Enterprise & Government - Best in class solutions for large scale operations including the aviation, maritime, and defense industries RESPONSIBILITIES: Design, develop, and test highly reliable electronics for communicating with our satellites Evaluate third party electrical and design integration solutions for reliable operation of Starlink Partner with software, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing teams, and production test teams Drive system trades, requirements capture, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, PCB layout, prototyping, hardware bring-up, debugging, documentation, manufacturing, and test of complex electrical designs Get hands-on and support hardware through production, satellite integration, and flight Work closely with engineers from adjacent disciplines (mechanical, thermal, software, test engineering, supply chain, silicon design, etc.) to deliver tightly integrated, high-performance hardware Drive continual improvements to our designs by building physical and digital tools to analyze data collected on orbit and in the lab Challenge assumptions and work to find simple solutions to complex problems BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bache