Avionics Test Engineer (Starshield) at SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA

Summary: SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars, and they are seeking an Avionics Test Engineer for their Starshield program. The role involves designing and developing test systems for electronic hardware on satellites, ensuring the safety and reliability of spacecraft through rigorous testing and innovation. Responsibilities: - Design, develop, and maintain custom test solutions for flight hardware consisting of in-house developed electronics, optics, RF antennas and modulators, and electro-mechanical hardware - Select commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and/or design custom PCBAs to measure signals, apply flight-like loads, and power units under test - Write automation software in Python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and production documentation systems - Work closely with and consistently provide feedback to responsible design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and test lab teams to drive innovation in design and infrastructure to increase product reliability and yield - Root-cause test anomalies and failures during various states of testing and development to ensure they are understood and implement mitigations Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or an engineering discipline with an emphasis in electrical engineering and electronics - 1+ years of experience with electronic hardware development or software development (academic projects, internships, and traditional professional experience all qualify) - 1+ years of programming experience using Python, MATLAB, or Embedded C/C++ Preferred Qualifications: - Experience analyzing circuits and developing functional test plans - Experience developing object-oriented software - Experience designing and troubleshooting PCBAs - Experience with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, DMMs, DAQs and measurement techniques to verify and validate product electronic requirements - Experience with RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, and signal generators - Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage - Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis - Understanding and experience in environmental testing such as HALT, HASS, vibration, shock, thermal, TVAC, and EMI/EMC - Active Secret, Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance, or ability to obtain one desired but not required Required Skills: Electronic hardware development, Software development, Python programming, MATLAB programming, Embedded C/C++ programming, Circuit analysis, Functional test plan development, Object-oriented software development, PCBA design, troubleshooting, Test equipment operation, Oscilloscope usage, Digital multimeter (DMM) usage, Data acquisition (DAQ) usage, RF test equipment operation, Spectrum analyzer usage, Vector network analyzer usage, Signal generator usage, Electrical schematic understanding, Electronics manufacturing knowledge, Metrology, Measurement error analysis, Uncertainty analysis, Environmental testing, HALT, HASS, Vibration testing, Shock testing, Thermal testing, TVAC testing, EMI/EMC testing, Security clearance Benefits: Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, Potential discretionary bonuses, Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, Short and long-term disability insurance, Life insurance, Paid parental leave, Various other discounts and perks, 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays per year, Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law