This role pays less than
87%
of similar roles. Most pay
$137,500–$197,500
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$125k
versus about
$168k
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
793 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$130,000–$165,000
across 557 roles with salary data.
Electrical Hardware Engineer - Optics, Satellites (Starlink) joins the Starlink Optics team to manage the full lifecycle of hardware for satellite-based imaging systems, free-space optical communication systems, and high-speed fiber optic transceivers. This role involves designing complex electrical designs, including image sensor integration, high-speed SERDES, sensitive analog circuitry, power electronics, and embedded system design. Day-to-day responsibilities include system trades, requirements capture, schematic capture, PCB layout oversight, hardware bring-up, and troubleshooting through production and flight. The position requires expertise in mixed-signal circuit boards featuring processors, FPGAs, GPUs, Ethernet, multi-GHz Serdes, DRAM interfaces, I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, and power supply components. Candidates should possess skills in Python and C/C++ to support hardware development for LEO and lunar satellites while collaborating across mechanical, optical, thermal, and software engineering disciplines to solve critical aerospace communication challenges.
Develop high-reliability electronics for satellites and spacecraft.
Manage the full hardware lifecycle from system trades and requirements capture to on-orbit performance.
Perform schematic capture and oversee PCB layout for complex electrical designs.
Execute hardware bring-up, debugging, and troubleshooting of electronic systems.
Design mixed-signal circuit boards featuring FPGAs, GPUs, high-speed SERDES, and power electronics.
Support hardware through production, satellite integration, and flight testing.
Drive requirements for underlying silicon and manage component selection.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or another STEM field.
1+ years of experience designing circuits, electronic products, or hardware.
Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a similar engineering degree (preferred).
2+ years of professional experience rapidly designing and delivering highly reliable products (preferred).
2+ years of experience designing mixed-signal circuit boards from concept through production using processors, FPGAs, GPUs, and high-speed Serdes (preferred).
2+ years of professional experience testing, troubleshooting, and debugging electronics (preferred).
Strong understanding of computers and programming languages such as Python or C/C++ (preferred).
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for required export control authorizations.
PCB Layout
Schematic Capture
FPGA
Python
C
C++
High-Speed Digital
Power Electronics
RF Engineering
Ethernet
SerDes
DDR4
I2C
SPI
Digital to Analog Converters
PCB Layout
Schematic Capture
Python
C
C++
Power Electronics
RF Engineering
Test Automation
Ethernet
I2C
SPI
digital to analog converters
Hardware Bring-up
Failure Analysis
Avionics