ELECTRICAL TEST ENGINEER, GROUND STATIONS (STARLINK)
SpaceX is designing, building, and deploying the world’s largest and highest-performing network of ground station antennas – the Starlink gateways. These ground stations serve as the backbone of the Starlink satellite constellation, ensuring seamless communication between satellites and global data centers (PoPs) to provide internet connectivity to millions of users worldwide.
As an Electrical Test Engineer on the Gateway Ground Stations team, you will play a critical role in developing, validating, and scaling the electronic and RF systems that enable our gateways to connect to Starlink satellites. You will operate at the intersection of the production, supply chain, design, software, and certification teams, collaborating to optimize hardware performance, ensure manufacturability, and meet rigorous quality standards. This position combines expertise in RF engineering, electronics testing, automation, and hardware reliability to ensure that our gateways perform at their best under all conditions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design, develop, and maintain electrical test systems for RF and electronic systems in Starlink gateway ground stations.
- Build and validate new automated test systems for high-performance RF components and supporting electronics.
- Perform hands-on troubleshooting of RF systems and other electronic hardware using multimeters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, and other diagnostic tools.
- Write test automation scripts in Python to enable repeatable, high reliability testing of units under test.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (production, supply chain, design, software, and certification) to ensure test coverage and improve hardware performance.
- Conduct environmental and reliability testing (e.g., thermal, humidity, HALT/HASS) to validate robustness under operational conditions.
- Analyze and interpret test data to identify root causes of failures and drive corrective actions to improve reliability and performance.
- Develop and maintain test documentation, including test procedures, reports, and technical findings.
- Drive improvements in test processes and equipment to optimize throughput, accuracy, and scalability for high-volume manufacturing.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or a related STEM discipline.
- 1+ years of experience in electronics hardware development, testing, or validation (internship or co-op experience acceptable).
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree in electrical engineering, RF engineering, or similar engineering discipline.
- Experience with digital and mixed-signal designs, using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, and soldering equipment.
- Strong understanding of RF systems, including antennas, filters, amplifiers, and mixers.
- Hands-on experience with test equipment and measurement techniques such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and oscilloscopes.
- Proficiency in programming and scripting for test automation and data analysis (Python, C/C++, SQL).
- Experience with PCB design, layout, and troubleshooting.
- Familiarity with environmental and reliability testing, such as HALT/HASS, thermal, vibration, and TVAC.
- Understanding of failure mechanisms for RF and electronic hardware and methods for diagnosing and resolving issues.
- Experience with production testing and the development of high-volume manufacturing test processes.
- Knowledge of communication protocols such as Ethernet, SPI, I2C, and UART.
- 3+ years of industry experience working with electronic hardware.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willing to work extended hours and weekends when needed
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for innovation, and commitment to improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- Pay range:
- Electrical Test Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00/per year
Electrical Test Engineer/Level II: $115,000.00 - $135,000.00/per year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.
