Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

SpaceX· Redmond, WA· Starlink Satellite Integration and Test

Posted 2026-10-30

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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.

SR. MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER, SATELLITES (STARLINK)

As a member of the Starlink Production Design team you will design the factory of the future, enabling mass production of satellites, ground stations, and high-performance space hardware that has never been produced in volume. You will design custom tooling and machinery for production processes that range from manual to highly automated. You will use your expertise in mechanical engineering to design, analyze, fabricate, qualify, and commission structures, mechanism and automation equipment, optimizing for pace of execution and net impact to SpaceX. You will personally own high impact projects and drive them from concept to completion on a time scale measured in months, not years.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design and develop structures, mechanisms and automation equipment to enable high volume production of Starlink Satellites
Demonstrate extreme ownership of projects through their entire lifecycle, from initial concept generation through fabrication and production bring-up
Balance simultaneous projects of varying scope and complexity in a fast-paced environment
Partner with flight design and production teams to develop the satellite, factory and production processes in parallel
Solve complex, open-ended problems with an emphasis on speed of execution and efficiency
Hone your organizational skills as you coordinate with internal SpaceX resources and external vendors and maintain a project schedule and budget
Assemble and commission the equipment you design

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
5+ years of professional experience in Mechanical Engineering
Prior experience designing mechanical systems using 3D CAD software and 2D drawings

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Prior work experience with structural design and analysis
Experience with custom machine design; electromechanical systems, motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings, lifting/rigging, etc.
Ability to perform structures hand calculations
Strong expertise in design for manufacturability and design for assembly including experience taking products from development to high-volume production
Familiarity with drafting standards and the application of GD&T
Solid understanding of common manufacturing processes and machines including mills, lathes, manual and CNC, and hands-on machining experience
Experience with Siemens Unigraphics (UGS/NX) and Teamcenter CAD/PDM systems
Experience with finite element analysis, such as FEMAP pre/post processing, NASTRAN Solver, ANSYS Workbench, NX Advance Simulation
Experience with manufacturing process development, facility and line layouts, process failure mode effects analysis, and error proofing

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer, Satellites (Starlink): $130,000.00 - $180,000.00/per year

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.

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 [email protected].

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