--- title: 'Hardware Test Automation Engineer at SpaceX' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-test-automation-engineer-spacex-bastrop-zd8btzfsry3c' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-22' --- # Hardware Test Automation Engineer at SpaceX - **Company:** SpaceX - **Location:** Bastrop, TX - **Posted:** 2026-09-22 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-22 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8830956002?gh_jid=8830956002 ## Job description 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. ## HARDWARE TEST AUTOMATION ENGINEER, SATELLITES (STARLINK) At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation with over 9,500 in-orbit and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe. As a Hardware Test Automation Engineer you will design, build, and automate test systems to support the development and qualification of satellite payloads, propulsion systems, mechanisms, and more. This role encompasses design, analysis, and manufacturing disciplines, with the ability to spearhead large-scope projects from early design through implementation. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here – engineers on this team are curious, collaborative, love to learn new things, and work effectively in a dynamic environment to deliver high-impact technology on a massive scale. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Develop, document, and implement cross-functional automation solutions to improve test capability, coverage, and safety. - Design and implement test and ground support equipment (GSE) to include flight hardware fixtures, automated test equipment, facilities infrastructure, vacuum systems, etc. - Design user interfaces that make complex machines easy to use and troubleshoot. - Create electrical, pneumatic, and fluid schematics. - Provide innovative solutions to unique requirements and challenges faced by the team, which can range from specialized equipment to difficult installation locations. - Perform electrical installation of valves, limit switches, potentiometers, transducers, etc. ## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline. - 1+ years of experience automating test systems. - 1+ years of experience with instrumentation, data acquisition (DAQ) system design, or electronics test engineering. ## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - 1+ years of programming experience using Python, MATLAB, or C/C++. - Experience with one or more of the following electrical test equipment: oscilloscopes, digital multimeters (DMM), DAQs, power supply, electronic load, spectrum analyzer, source measurement unit. - Experience with programmable logic controllers (PLC). - Experience in one or more of the following: electronics test rack design and build, DAQ setup and field measurements, build of electronic systems or test systems for local assembly or industrial applications. - Extensive knowledge of various digital and analog interfaces including but not limited to: USB, VISA, TCP/IP, CAN bus, SPI, I2C, Modbus, analog-to-digital conversion. - Experience troubleshooting interactions between software and hardware. - Experience with the design, build, and activation of fluids, thermal, vacuum, structural or electromechanical systems. - Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis. - Able to collaborate with a wide range of people and effectively work in a team. - Sound verbal and written communication skills. ## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - Willing to work weekends and extended hours as needed. ## ITAR REQUIREMENTS: - To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR [here](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987). SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. ## About SpaceX ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft while building a global satellite broadband network and AI infrastructure to enable interplanetary life. - **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: SPCX) – IPO priced at $135/share on June 12, 2026 - **Headquarters**: Starbase, Texas (primary); Hawthorne, California (historical headquarters) - **Founded**: 2002 - **Founders**: Elon Musk ## Core Business - **Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Spaceflight, Satellite Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence - **Target Customers**: Government (NASA, U.S. Armed Forces, international agencies), Commercial satellite operators, Broadband consumers (Starlink), Defense/intelligence (Starshield) - **Mission**: To make humanity multiplanetary by building the integrated hardware and software infrastructure of the future across space, connectivity, and AI. ## Products & Services - **Falcon 9**: Reusable two-stage rocket – the world’s most launched orbital rocket, with over 630 successful first-stage reflights. - **Falcon Heavy**: Heavy-lift launch vehicle composed of three Falcon 9 cores; capable of lifting nearly 64 metric tons to orbit. - **Starship**: Fully reusable super-heavy launch vehicle and spacecraft (largest ever built) designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. - **Dragon 2**: Crew and cargo spacecraft used for NASA Commercial Crew and private missions to the ISS and beyond. - **Starlink**: Low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to over 10.3 million people globally. - **Starshield**: Military-grade satellite services for national security and defense customers. - **SpaceXAI**: Division focused on AI compute infrastructure, frontier models, and real-time data processing (including AI compute satellites). ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Conflicting reports – Internal share offer in 2025 valued SpaceX at **$800 billion**; IPO pricing (June 2026) implied a market capitalization of approximately **$75 billion** for the shares offered. - **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of **$15.0 billion** (2025); total funding raised **$15.2 billion** across 56 rounds. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Google (led $1B Series G), Intesa Sanpaolo, NASA, U.S. Space Force, and numerous institutional investors. - **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount of **11,387** (monthly growth +2.5%); **1,671 active job postings**; Falcon 9 launch cadence of 1–3 per week; Starlink subscriber base covering ~10.3 million people; recent acquisition of xAI (February 2026). ## Competitive Advantages - **Full reusability**: Only company with a fleet of reusable orbital rockets (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy), dramatically lowering per-launch cost. - **Vertical integration**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own rockets, spacecraft, satellite constellation, and AI platform – enabling rapid iteration and cost control. - **Scale and reliability**: More orbital launches per year than any other provider (public or private); proven track record with NASA and DoD. - **First-mover in commercial spaceflight**: Established crew transport, satellite internet, and now AI compute in orbit. ## Strategic Focus - **Starship development**: Complete testing and operational deployment of the fully reusable Starship system for lunar (Artemis) and Mars missions. - **Starlink expansion**: Grow subscriber base, launch V3 satellites, and extend mobile and direct-to-cell services. - **AI integration**: Leverage SpaceXAI for on-orbit compute and real-time data analytics; build AI compute satellites. - **Interplanetary infrastructure**: Develop technologies for sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven culture**: Employees directly contribute to making life multiplanetary – “hard work and innovative solutions result in big gains.” - **Impactful projects**: Work on reusable rockets, crewed spacecraft, global broadband, and AI systems that are actively changing the space industry. - **Compensation**: Competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and equity packages. - **Work locations**: Primary campuses in Hawthorne, CA and Starbase, TX (with additional sites in Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg, CA). Roles span engineering, software, manufacturing, and support. - **Engineering culture**: Merit-based, fast-paced, with high ownership; top talent sourced from Tesla, Boeing, NASA JPL, and other aerospace leaders. - **Open roles**: Over 1,600 active positions across software, AI, avionics, propulsion, supply chain, and more – including internships. ## Sources 1. [SpaceX Careers Page](https://www.spacex.com/careers) 2. [LinkedIn – SpaceX Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacex) 3. [SpaceX IPO Factsheet (PDF)](https://content.spacex.com/cms-assets/FINAL_Documents%20and%20Updates/SpaceX%20IPO_Factsheet.pdf) 4. [SpaceX IPO Pricing Press Release](https://ir.spacex.com/updates/releases-details/2026/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp--Announces-Pricing-of-Initial-Public-Offering/default.aspx) 5. 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