Mechanical Engineer - Optical, Satellites (Starlink)

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.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER – OPTICS, SATELLITES (STARLINK)

Mechanical engineers on the Optical Team own the end-to-end design of hardware that provide high-bandwidth connectivity and state of the art imagery for our satellites. This includes next-generation Starlink long-range Space Lasers for inner-satellite links to the Moon and (eventually) Mars; Advanced imaging payloads for attitude determination and space-safety surveillance, as well as Space-to-ground laser communication technology.

As a Mechanical Engineer you will own the structural, actuator, and electro-mechanical design of hardware such as: precision pointing mechanisms, launch-lock and deployment hardware, chassis and load paths, and the packaging of electronics into flight assemblies. You will take hardware from first sketch through analysis, prototype, environmental test, production, and on-orbit operation. Successful candidates are equally comfortable in CAD as well as being hands on in the test lab or on the factory floor.

• Own mechanical, electro-mechanical, and actuator hardware from conceptual design through production and on-orbit operation

• Design precision mechanisms and actuators — gimbals, fast-steering stages, flexures, launch locks, and related kinematics — that meet pointing, stiffness, mass, and reliability requirements

• Develop structural designs and load paths for laser terminals or imaging payloads; perform and interpret structural analysis (static, modal, random vibration, shock) to close the design

• Integrate electronics into flight hardware: PCBA packaging, thermal/mechanical interfaces, harnessing, connectors, and electro-mechanical assemblies

• Rapidly iterate on design and analysis to inform system-level trades across mass, stiffness, pointing, cost, and manufacturability

• Drive design for manufacturability and assembly for both high-volume Starlink terminals and lower-rate, higher-performance deep-space and imaging hardware

• Create CAD models and drawings with appropriate GD&T; release designs into production and support the factory through ramp

• Define and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing, including environmental test (vibe, shock, TVAC)

• Lead root-cause investigations on mechanical, electro-mechanical, and production issues and implement corrective actions

• Partner with optical, electrical, thermal, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to deliver an integrated product

• Own delivery timeline through conception, design, build, test, and launch

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline

• 1+ years of experience with CAD and mechanical design, analysis, testing, and/or manufacturing (internships/co-ops, research, and project experience is applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related technical discipline

• 3+ years of professional experience in mechanical design of mechanisms, structures, or electro-mechanical systems

• Experience designing precision actuators, gimbals, flexures, or motion-control mechanisms

• Demonstrated structural analysis of complex assemblies (stiffness, modal, random vibration, shock, and/or thermoelastic)

• Experience integrating electronics into mechanical assemblies (PCBA mechanical design, packaging, connectors, harnessing)

• Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX preferred) and