---
title: 'Test Engineer - Electric Propulsion, Satellites (Starlink) at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/test-engineer-electric-propulsion-satellites-starlink-spacex-redmond-hpamxvdqmtz9'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-15'
---

# Test Engineer - Electric Propulsion, Satellites (Starlink) at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Redmond, WA
- **Posted:** 2026-05-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8569580002?gh_jid=8569580002

## 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.

## TEST ENGINEER – ELECTRIC PROPULSION, SATELLITES (STARLINK)

The Electric Propulsion Test Engineer is responsible for ensuring the electric thrusters that propel Starlink satellites and their associated components have been tested and qualified to function in flight conditions. Our engineers specialize in test design and execution of unique development & qualification test campaigns on an accelerated schedule. This role offers a variety of diverse engineering challenges in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. Electric Propulsion Test Engineers will work on state-of-the-art electric thruster technology in an unmatched, high-rate production environment. By designing and executing test campaigns for the system, you will help sustain and improve upon the largest satellite constellation in existence! Join the team and help SpaceX provide global low-latency internet and contribute to our mission of making humanity multiplanetary.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Develop and execute rigorous tests at the system, thruster, and component-level to evaluate hardware performance and survivability during the Starlink mission.
- Repeated ownership of test campaigns, including test plan creation, new system activation, test operations, data review, and test stand/diagnostic equipment design & fabrication.
- Provide daily direction and instruction to technicians to build test articles, fabricate test stands and test stand equipment, integrate test articles and execute test processes.
- Develop and maintain test procedures, sequences, scripts, configuration files, and software.
- Operate and troubleshoot data acquisition and control systems, wiring, and instrumentation with primarily Beckhoff/TwinCat DAQ systems and python-based test software.
- Operate and troubleshoot electric thrusters and supporting equipment, including high-vacuum facilities, pressurized feed systems, avionics circuits, and thruster diagnostics.
- Design, operate, and fabricate mechanical systems for thruster ground support; these include test stand support structures, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, tooling, and fluid/electronic components such as valves, tubing, and transient protection circuitry.
- Execute the scientific method repeatedly in a R&D context, with an emphasis on minimizing asterisks and unknowns, and maximizing clear, actionable conclusions to inform improvements in propulsion system reliability and performance.
- Manage schedules and deliverables for vehicle subsystem qualification testing; document & present results and conclusions clearly and explain technical details to wide audiences.
- Operate and interpret results from electronic, mechanical, and plasma diagnostics, including oscilloscope and current/voltage diagnostics, pressure transducers, gas flowmeters, and low-force thrust stands.
- Develop innovative processes to increase testing capability and rates, while maintaining quality and rigor of experimental learnings. Automate repetitive test operations to increase efficiency and safety.
- Anticipate and characterize system pitfalls and potential hazards, work to resolve problems by collaborating with design engineers on improvements for test stands and flight hardware.
- Analyze and review data to ensure that hardware is operating as expected utilizing numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results.
- Develop, maintain, and execute integration and testing process, and collaborate with design engineers to improve hardware.
- Collaborate with hardware reliability team to lead experiments to inform anomaly investigations.
- Collaborate with software teams to minimize exceptions between ground test and flight operations through safe, efficient, and readable software.

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or related STEM field.
- 1+ years of hands-on hardware experience (experience from internships, clubs or other hands-on extra-curricular activities qualifies)

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or equivalent experience
- Experience in production and test systems
- Hands on test and production facility, factory, or laboratory experience
- Hardware automation software experience, including DAQ setup and instrumentation networking with logic controllers
- Mechanical aptitude and experience
- Knowledge and/or experience in aerospace structural or mechanical or propulsion systems assembly and testing
- Ability to utilize test instrumentation and control components: pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid valves, basic circuits
- Ability to solve problems calling for technical analysis
- Ability to read and understand technical manuals and reports
- Ability to read and understand mechanical and electrical schematics
- Knowledge of hazardous systems and safety practices - cryogenic, flammable, high-voltage, high-pressure
- Knowledge of high-pressure system design and handling
- Experience using test instrumentation and control components
- Windows Operating Systems, Intermediate skill level
- Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, OneNote), Intermediate skill level
- Python, Intermediate/advanced skill level
- C/C++, Novice skill level
- CAD modeling (Unigraphics NX preferred), Novice skill level
- MATLAB, Novice-Intermediate skill level

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Physical effort including sitting or standing for extended periods of time, lifting and carrying weight such as materials or equipment (up to 25 lbs. unassisted)
- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines

## COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Level 1: $100,000 - $117,500 Level 2: $115,000 - $140,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

## 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. [SpaceX Jobs Board (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/spacex)

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