Battery Test Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)
Responsibilities
- Create test fixturing concepts, fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and 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
BASIC 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 SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- 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
- 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)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must be willing to travel as needed, up to 25% to other SpaceX sites
- Physical effort including standing, lifting, and carrying equipment up to 25 lbs. unassisted
- Ability to work in outdoor environments as needed
- Must be available to work extended hours and some weekends
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Pay range: Battery Test Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year Battery Test Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/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.
Your total rewards package includes base salary, long-term incentives, and the ability to purchase additional stock through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Other benefits include comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, 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 be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue 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.
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. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.