---
title: 'Test Engineer (Starship) at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/test-engineer-starship-spacex-starbase-1r1yj4vwkgdd'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Test Engineer (Starship) at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Starbase, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-07-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8627642002?gh_jid=8627642002

## 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 (STARSHIP)

As an Integration and Test Engineer on the Starship team, you will be responsible for all initial system testing of the Starship Vehicle. Your challenges will be to develop the procedures and tools to test all integrated vehicle assemblies and verify vehicle health before it leaves to the pad; ensure that the individual assembly areas are able to execute checkouts seamlessly and with minimal overhead; and accelerate all aspects of vehicle factory operations to enable our rapid production and launch cadence goals. You will be tasked as an expert in ground/test software, test equipment (propulsion and avionics), integrated testing of vehicle high pressure and avionics systems, and will be a technical resource for all applicable Starship build engineers, specialists, and technicians.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Develop deep understanding of vehicle avionics/propulsion architecture, and how the vehicle operates as an integrated system
- Establish test criteria and pass/fail requirements for integrated vehicle checkouts
- Develop procedures and processes for validation of a rapidly evolving spacecraft
- Identify and drive improvements to testing efficiency and safety of vehicle testing
- Troubleshoot hardware issues real-time, and push feedback to correct owners to eliminate repeat issues
- Interface with design, build, and systems engineering as well as production leadership and technicians in the field
- Develop and lead training efforts to build test execution capability within production and outside engineering teams
- Build requirements and provide feedback for large scope GSE projects needed to enable checkouts execution and achieve production rate
- Develop the Starship production line, and provide feedback to Starship design to maximize efficiency and minimize cost/ton to orbit

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of hands-on engineering experience (design teams and previous internships qualify)

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Proven experience in streamlining test operations by challenging requirements and eliminating process waste
- Systems engineering experience, ability to understand multi-disciplinary integrated systems
- Experience creating, reading, and interpreting electrical and fluid schematics
- Experience with integration and testing of propulsion and/or electrical systems
- Experience in planning and execution of complex test operations
- Experience developing test software, automation
- Experience in test equipment design and operation
- Experience writing test plans, procedures and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
- Familiarity with software development in Rust, Python, or other languages

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Must be willing to travel to our launch sites in support of build out activities and launches; travel requirement is up to 15%
- Must be able to work all shifts, extended hours and weekends as needed
- Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
- Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
- Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
- Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
- Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
- Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
- Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
- Kneel/Crouch: N/A
- Upper body twist: N/A
- Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
- Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

## 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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