GNC Engineer, Satellite Power Systems (Starlink)

About the role

SpaceX is leveraging experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system. As a Satellite Power Systems GNC Engineer, you will be responsible for vehicle design trades, simulation, flight code implementation, and ultimately deploying and operating your features in space.

Responsibilities

• Develop, deploy, monitor, and maintain control systems for the flow of electrical power on Starlink satellites
• Improve insight into the health and performance of Starlink electrical power systems by developing ground-based or on-vehicle estimation schemes and summarizing fleet-wide information relayed to the ground
• Dig deep into data from satellites to identify anomalous system or algorithm behavior
• Invent schemes to shield the vehicle from dangerous operation and shield algorithms from corruption
• Interface with a diverse team – software, reliability, and satellite operations

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, computer science or other STEM discipline
• Professional experience with one of the following coding languages: C/C++, Python, Java

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline
• Very strong expertise and demonstrated project or professional experience in linear closed loop controls analysis and design, including state space and frequency domain methods
• Experience with flexible body dynamics and reduced finite element models thereof in the context of closed loop control systems analysis
• Expertise in state estimation, Kalman filters, or recursive least squares
• Experience in control systems and estimation
• Strong expertise in embedded C++, Python, MATLAB, Simulink, and other software development languages/tools
• Direct experience with spacecraft operations and flight software development, testing, and deployment
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems in a self-directed manner
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry
• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

Pay

• GNC Engineer/Level I: $125,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year
• GNC Engineer/Level II: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year
• Base salary determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience
• Eligible for long-term incentives (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

Benefits

• 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
• Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law
• Company shuttles offered for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday

Schedule

Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.