Development Test Engineer, Satellites

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Redmond, WA
Salary: $105,000–$120,000 / yr
Posted: 156 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $163k

This role $112k

$95k most similar roles pay here $199k

This role pays less than 95% of similar roles. Most pay $137,500–$188,750 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $112k versus about $163k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 720 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 511 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Development Test Engineer, Satellites

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As a Development Test Engineer, Satellites (Starlink), you will join a multidisciplinary team to design, build, and maintain reliable hardware-in-the-loop testbeds for the Starlink software continuous integration system. You will develop test cases and create simulation environments that replicate on-orbit scenarios, such as motion profiles for mobile customers or ion thruster functionality. Your work supports the development of space laser mesh networks, phased array antennas, and collision avoidance algorithms. The role requires expertise in electrical, mechanical, or aerospace engineering, with experience in RF systems, propulsion, and 3D CAD software. You will utilize tools like oscilloscopes, DAQs, and spectrum analyzers while working with communication protocols including CAN bus, SPI, and I2C. Additionally, you must possess skills in network troubleshooting across OSI layers 2-4 to ensure high test coverage for the satellite constellation.

Skills

HIL HITL RF 3D CAD USB VISA CAN bus SPI I2C Modbus OSI-model Oscilloscopes Spectrum Analyzers Unit Testing Data Analysis

What you'll do

Design, build, and maintain reliable hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds and supporting infrastructure for Starlink software systems.
Develop test cases and simulation environments that replicate on-orbit scenarios to provide flight-like testing capabilities.
Ensure software achieves appropriate levels of test coverage while balancing reliability, velocity, and safety.
Create innovative strategies to scale the HITL fleet to meet growing software organization demands.
Analyze and troubleshoot HITL test results to identify hardware issues and prevent software bugs from reaching production.
Build platforms to simulate motion profiles for mobile customers and ion thruster functionality.
Perform end-to-end validation of the Starlink network.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
1+ years of professional test experience within electrical, mechanical, and/or aerospace engineering.
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to meet ITAR requirements.
Experience with integration and testing of electrical, electromechanical, RF, and/or propulsion systems (preferred).
Experience with electrical test equipment such as oscilloscopes, DAQs, electronic loads, and spectrum analyzers (preferred).
Experience with 3D CAD software for design, modeling, and manufacturing applications (preferred).
Experience with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) (preferred).
Experience with communication protocols including USB, VISA, CAN bus, SPI, I2C, and Modbus (preferred).