Avionics Test Engineer; Starship

Space

X 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 Space

X is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

The Components Test team develops the test and manufacturing processes for the most advanced spacecraft avionics in the world. Our engineers serve as hardware experts for the flight control devices and mechanisms that drive the critical capabilities on our spacecraft – from inertial measurement units, network hardware, power distribution, antennas and more. We design software and build the systems that test the flight components for maximum performance and reliability in extreme environments, with mission success being imperative.

Testing is a fundamental quality check and the last line of defense before our products are installed for flight. As an Avionics Test Engineer, you will have the unique opportunity to design and develop test systems that will validate the performance of these components in a cross‑disciplinary environment. You will be expected to create new test systems and infrastructure from the ground up, including hardware, software, and test sequences to exercise all possible failure modes.

We are looking for people who excel at solving complex problems, maintain a high sense of urgency in their work, and contribute as a team player to build new capabilities and innovate in our testing approach.

• 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.

• 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++.

• Experience analyzing circuits and developing functional test plans.
• 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 developing object‑oriented software.
• 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.

• Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones.
• Ability to lift heavy harnesses and fixtures.

Pay range:

Avionics Test Engineer/Level I: $ – $ per year
Avionics Test Engineer/Level II: $ – $ 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  may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the…