SpaceX The Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer at SpaceX leads the architecture, integration, and test of avionics systems for new vehicles. This role includes mentoring engineers, driving system-level trades, and supporting launch operations.
Responsibilities
Lead avionics system architecture for new vehicles, including power, data, RF, and sensor topologies
Drive closure of vehicle electrical interfaces by working directly with other responsible engineers on structures, propulsion, GNC, software, and customer teams
Lead vehicle wiring diagram and harness architecture, and set integration standards for avionics boxes, sensors, and actuators
Drive system-level trades on mass, power, thermal, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule, and present recommendations to program leadership
Lead system-level integration and test, including integration lane checkouts and vehicle-level testing, and partner with the teams that own hardware-in-the-loop testing
Define the avionics system verification strategy and lead the test campaigns that show the as-built vehicle is “go for launch”
Lead root cause investigations on integrated-vehicle issues and drive corrective actions into the design
Support launch operations on console, including real-time troubleshooting and decision-making on the vehicle
Mentor systems engineers, review designs and test plans, and raise the technical standard of the team
Plan and lead system projects, including schedules, task ownership, and the internal and external resources required to support them
Qualification
Experience with wire harness designSoftware fluency
Required
Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
5+ years of experience with electrical component design, system-level integration of electronic components, or system-level testing
2+ years of experience using software tools such as Python, MATLAB, or C++
Preferred
Experience leading avionics or electrical system architecture for a vehicle, spacecraft, or other complex electromechanical product
Experience taking a new vehicle or product from concept through first build and test
Experience defining system-level verification and test programs for flight or high-reliability hardware
Experience leading real-time operations such as launch, flight, or test console support
Experience with wire harness design, wiring diagrams, and associated sub-components (connectors, backshells, shielding)
Experience with common avionics interfaces and networks such as Ethernet, CAN, RS-422, SPI, and I2C
Software fluency, including AI-assisted coding and analysis tools, enabling automation of test or analysis tasks and manipulation of large data sets
Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and lead technical teams without relying solely on formal authority
