Sr. Design Criteria Engineer

About the role

The Starshield team adapts Starlink technology to support national security missions, focusing on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. This role involves overseeing satellite design integrity, from initial concept through orbital operation, to ensure high reliability and mission success. You will work on either design-focused or change-focused engineering initiatives to maintain a high-cadence manufacturing environment.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define and manage design criteria, requirements, and verification protocols for satellite systems.
• Conduct technical peer reviews for hardware designs and qualification test campaigns.
• Guide engineering teams through SpaceX design processes to ensure compliance with manufacturing and test standards.
• Provide analysis and recommendations for electrical, structural, and radio frequency systems.
• Identify development risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Manage satellite configuration, including bill of materials accuracy for as-designed and as-built states.
• Track and communicate system-level changes across the satellite fleet.
• Build specialized tools for design, analysis, and milestone tracking.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering experience, including professional, project, internship, or extracurricular work.
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to meet ITAR requirements.

Nice to have

• Advanced degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in design, analysis, test, or manufacturing.
• Experience with aerospace systems such as spacecraft, launch vehicles, or aircraft.
• Background in electrical or mechanical system design for high-rate manufacturing or safety-critical applications.
• Experience with make versus buy decisions.
• Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance.

Skills & tools

• Scripting and data analysis: Python, Matlab, SQL, Visual Basic, or Excel.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

Practical notes

• Active security clearance holders are eligible for a 10% differential, up to $20,000 annually, upon briefing into a classified program.
• Total rewards include company stock, long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits include medical, vision, dental, 401(k), disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of vacation, and 10+ paid holidays.
• Employment is subject to pre-employment drug testing for cleared roles.