Battery Test Engineer, Satellites (Starlink) at SpaceX in Redmond, WA

Summary: SpaceX is a company focused on developing technologies for human exploration of Mars, and they are seeking a Battery Test Engineer for their Starlink project. The role involves designing and implementing battery test equipment, conducting development tests, and ensuring the reliability and performance of battery systems for satellites. Responsibilities: - Create test fixturing concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and to establish mechanical, thermal, and electrical tests necessary for rapid development of battery packs and cells - Develop and maintain test facilities including abuse testing chambers and vacuum chambers - Establish safety protocols for high voltage applications and various destructive tests of battery cells - Design test fixtures and data acquisition systems - Document test plans, procedures, and results - Provide feedback on system level design trades - Design and analyze structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms - Operate test beds with great attention to detail (tests have very little margin for error, so attention to detail is a crucial and essential characteristic of a development test engineer) - Develop test requirements with the flight engineering team, develop a design solution that meets or exceeds those requirements, and drive the campaign to closure Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering - 1+ years of experience in one or more of the following: Involvement with an extracurricular project team designing and building mechanical fixturing and/or battery systems, Academic research on mechanical structures and batteries, Professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures and fixturing Preferred Qualifications: - Experience with electrical, electrochemical, fluidic, electromechanical, thermal, structural, pneumatic, and vacuum systems - Experience with basic test instrumentation such as current sensors, contactors, pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid valves, and encoders - Experience with Arbin and Novonix cell cyclers - Experience with Unigraphics (NX) or similar CAD programs - Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA) - Experience with lithium-ion battery handling, safety and usage - Demonstrated understanding of structural and mechanical first principles analysis - Familiarity with battery cell first principles - Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation - Hands-on experience with testing, data acquisition, and troubleshooting issues - Hands-on design and fabrication experience - Basic programming skills (Python and SQL preferred) Required Skills: Mechanical engineering, Mechanical fixturing design, Battery systems, Electrical systems, Electrochemical systems, Fluidic systems, Electromechanical systems, Thermal systems, Structural analysis, Pneumatic systems, Vacuum systems, Test instrumentation, Arbin cell cyclers, Novonix cell cyclers, CAD software, Finite element analysis, Lithium-ion battery handling, Battery safety, Hardware project management, Testing, data acquisition, Troubleshooting, fabrication, Python programming, SQL programming Benefits: Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock 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 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