Mechanical Engineer - Optical, Satellites (Starlink)

Redmond, WAfull timeOn Site

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mid

$100k–$135k

H1B: no

SpaceX The Mechanical Engineer on the Optical Team at SpaceX will design and develop hardware for Starlink satellites, including precision pointing mechanisms and electro-mechanical assemblies. The role covers the full hardware lifecycle from design through production and on-orbit operation.

Responsibilities

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 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

Qualification

Required

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

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 solid application of GD&T
Experience with structural analysis or finite element analysis (FEA) software
Experience taking a component or assembly from initial design through production ramp