Hardware Development Engineer, Power (Starlink) at SpaceX · Redmond

Summary: SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars, and they are seeking a Hardware Development Engineer for their Starlink project. This role involves designing and developing power conversion and control systems for Starlink satellites, ensuring high-speed, low-latency broadband internet service across the globe. Responsibilities: - Provide engineering expertise in design, analysis, and testing of DC-DC power converters for harsh environments - Work on electrical power system and sub-system level design trades and develop requirements - Define and perform electrical power system verification testing and analysis - Work with multidisciplinary teams of design, test, and production engineers to create new power electronics hardware Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline - 1+ years of professional experience in power converter development Preferred Qualifications: - Master's degree in electrical engineering or related field - Strong grasp of analog control and discrete logic design - Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of power electronics - Working experience in voltage and current mode control and compensation design - Experience with AC-DC converters and power factor correction - Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components - Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability - Familiar with failure mode effects and criticality analysis - Familiarity with design of wire wound and planar inductors and transformers - Familiarity with power supply testing and packaging for harsh environments - Experience with in-lab impedance measurement and loop-gain measurement - Familiarity with spacecraft electrical power systems and knowledge of radiation effects - Familiarity with solar arrays as input power sources - Familiarity with lithium-ion battery handling, safety, and usage Required Skills: Power converter development, DC-DC power converters, Electrical power system design, Electrical power system verification testing, Analog control design, Discrete logic design, Modeling and simulation of power electronics, Voltage and current mode control, Compensation design, AC-DC converters, Power factor correction, DC-DC topologies, Fault tolerance design, Reliability design, Failure mode effects and criticality analysis, Wire wound inductors design, Planar inductors design, Transformer design, Power supply testing, Impedance measurement, Loop-gain measurement, Spacecraft electrical power systems, Radiation effects knowledge, Solar arrays, Lithium-ion battery handling 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, Access to a 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