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Avionics Test Engineer (Starfall)

Hawthorne, CA
Full Time On-site

Want to design test systems at a speed never before seen in the industry? At SpaceX, we are designing systems to test avionics in a matter of weeks, not months or years! The Avionics Test group is the last line of defense testing and screening out all electronic hardware on our rockets and spacecraft. Hardware tested by the team includes but is not limited to: flight computers, power conversion units, analog and digital circuit boards, FPGAs, and communication system units. The team is critical in SpaceX's fundamental goal: allowing humanity to explore the stars. It is a huge undertaking and with it comes extreme responsibility to ensure the safety of the crew and payload.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Develop test solutions for in-house developed avionics hardware products that will fly to space
  • 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 design or infrastructure improvements to increase product reliability and yield
  • Root-cause test failures to ensure issues are understood and develop and implement mitigations as part of a process of continuous improvement

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science or physics
  • 1+ years of experience with hardware development or electronics test engineering via professional experience, internships, research and/or outside the classroom projects
  • 1+ years of python programming experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Experience with test equipment and measurement techniques to verify and validate product requirements
  • Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage
  • Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis
  • Experience developing object oriented software
  • Experience analyzing circuits and developing functional test plans
  • Understanding and experience in environmental testing such as vibration, shock, thermal, burn-in, and TVAC

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Level I: $105,000.00 - $122,500.00/per year
Level II: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00/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 accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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. Section 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

About SpaceX

SpaceX

SpaceX is one of the most influential aerospace companies in the world, transforming space launch, satellite communications, and deep-space transportation. Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX designs and manufactures advanced rockets and spacecraft, including Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship, alongside the Dragon spacecraft and the Starlink satellite internet constellation. The company plays a major role in U.S. space access, national security launch capabilities, and commercial space infrastructure.

For job seekers, SpaceX offers opportunities across some of the most demanding engineering disciplines in the industry, including aerospace engineering, propulsion, software development, avionics, manufacturing, robotics, materials science, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, technicians, and builders who want to work in a high-intensity environment focused on rapid iteration, vertical integration, and hands-on hardware development at scale.

Unlike traditional aerospace contractors that rely heavily on long development cycles, SpaceX operates with a fast-paced, vertically integrated engineering culture where teams design, build, test, and fly systems in rapid succession. Employees often work directly on flight hardware and production systems, contributing to programs that routinely push the boundaries of reusability, launch frequency, and cost reduction in space access.

As global demand for satellite communications, space infrastructure, and national security launch services continues to grow, SpaceX remains one of the most important employers in aerospace and defense-adjacent technology. For professionals seeking a highly challenging, mission-driven career at the cutting edge of spaceflight and advanced engineering, SpaceX stands out as one of the most ambitious and impactful companies in the world.

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