SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

Lead Development Test Engineer

Engineering LeadershipConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeBastrop, TX, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or another engineering discipline is required.
At least 3 years of hands-on design, analysis, build, and test experience are required.
At least 2 years of experience leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team are required.
Willingness to work weekends and extended hours as needed is required.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of engineers enabling rapid hardware development through thermal, fluids, environmental chamber, structural, vibration, and dynamic testing.
Oversee and own development-focused thermal chambers (HASS/HALT) and, as capability stands up, TVAC, including hardware, fixturing, profiles, instrumentation, controls/dashboards, and safety.
Oversee structural, vibration, pressure, and related mechanical testing, including test article and stand configuration, boundary conditions, schematics, and concepts of operations.
Act as technical decision maker and advisor to the team.
Coach and develop direct reports and set clear goals.
Develop, document, and implement cross-functional testing solutions covering capability, coverage, and safety.
Design and implement ground support equipment, including fixtures, automated test equipment, and facilities infrastructure.
Operate and activate stands with engineers and technicians and partner with Development Operations for fabrication; technician people operations are not owned by this role.

Desired Qualifications

At least 2 years of experience with computer-aided design, finite element analysis, and/or finite element methods.
Professional test experience in development testing, environmental testing, qualification, or integration and test.
Experience running, specifying, or owning campaigns with thermal HASS and/or HALT chambers.
Experience with structural and/or vibration testing, including static, dynamic, vibration, or equivalent testing.
Experience owning or operating thermal-vacuum campaigns.
Experience with both thermal-chamber and structural/vibration campaigns, rather than only one.
Experience designing, building, and activating fluids, thermal, vacuum, structural, or electromechanical systems.
Full-cycle ownership of a hardware or test campaign from concept through implementation.
Experience with hazardous systems, including high-pressure, high-energy, or fluids systems.
Experience with chamber automation, profiles, fixturing, data acquisition (strain, pressure transducers, load, thermocouples), and nonconformance report closure.
Experience with automation or scripting using Python, C++, SQL, or programmable logic controllers.
Experience with NX, SolidWorks, or EPLAN.
Strong desire to mentor and develop engineers.

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.

LEAD DEVELOPMENT TEST ENGINEER (STARLINK)

SpaceX is looking for a Lead Development Test Engineer to oversee a team responsible for development and qualification test of satellite hardware in Bastrop. This individual owns design, activation, safety, and reliability of thermal, fluids, chamber, structural, and vibration test capability (HASS, HALT, TVAC, static/dynamic/vibe). The role spans design, analysis, and manufacturing. You will take large-scope projects from early trades through implementation, define processes, drive requirements, and activate systems that meet the bar.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead a team of engineers enabling rapid hardware development through test — thermal, fluids, environmental chambers, structural, vibration, and dynamic test
Oversee and own development-focused thermal chambers (HASS / HALT) and, as capability stands up, TVAC — hardware, fixturing, profiles, instrumentation, controls/dashboards, safety
Oversee structural, vibration, pressure, and related mechanical test: test article and stand configuration, boundary conditions, schematics, CONOPS
Act as technical decision maker and advisor to the team
Coach and develop direct reports; set clear goals
Develop, document, and implement cross-functional testing solutions (capability, coverage, safety)
Design and implement GSE: fixtures, automated test equipment, facilities infrastructure
Operate and activate stands with engineers and technicians; partner with Development Operations for fab (you do not own technician people ops)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
3+ years of hands-on design, analysis, build, and test
2+ year leading a product development, manufacturing engineering, or project team

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

2+ years of experience with CAD, FEA, and/or FEM
Professional test experience (development test, environmental test, qual, or I&T)
Experience with thermal HASS and/or HALT chambers (ran, specified, or owned campaigns)
Experience with structural and/or vibration testing (static, dynamic, vibe, or equivalent)
TVAC / thermal-vacuum campaigns (owned or operated)
Both thermal-chamber and structural/vibe campaigns (not only one)
Design, build, and activation of fluids, thermal, vacuum, structural, or electromechanical systems
Full-cycle ownership of a hardware or test campaign from concept through implementation
Hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, fluids)
Chamber automation, profiles, fixturing, DAQ (strain, PT, load, TC), NCR closure
Automation / scripting (Python, C++, SQL, PLC)
NX, SolidWorks, EPLAN
Strong desire to mentor and develop engineers

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.

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].

About the Company

SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

SpaceX builds and launches reusable rockets and spacecraft for NASA, the military, and companies, and it runs Starlink, a satellite internet service for homes and businesses. In 2020, its Dragon capsule became the first privately built spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Falcon 9 rocket lands its first stage so the booster can fly again, which cuts launch costs, while Starlink beams internet from low-orbit satellites to small dishes for a monthly fee. SpaceX also owns xAI, maker of the Grok chatbot and owner of the social network X, and is building Starship, a fully reusable rocket meant to carry people to the Moon and Mars. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, and it is based in Starbase, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Starbase, Texas
Founded: 2002

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