Power Electronics Engineer - High Voltage (Starlink)

About the role

SpaceX Gateways are responsible for delivering internet from the ground to the satellites – they must be cost effective, capable of high performance in all weather conditions, and reliable over long periods of time. The traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) team is revolutionizing RF vacuum electronics to power the future of space communications with SpaceX gateways by building hardware an order of magnitude faster than traditional industry and an order of magnitude more cost-effective. In addition, we're developing our own high-voltage power supplies to drive unparalleled performance in these high-frequency, high-bandwidth amplification systems critical to our mission. As a key player on this team, you'll lead the design of sophisticated kV-level power supplies that drive TWTA systems. From concept to deployment, you'll own the full hardware lifecycle—prototyping, testing, integration, and iteration—while collaborating closely with experts across RF engineering, mechanical design, systems integration, manufacturing, and more.

Responsibilities

• Own hardware from conceptual design through high volume production and ground station operation
• Deliver engineering expertise in designing, analyzing, and rigorously testing of DC-DC power converters built to thrive in harsh environments
• Design power supplies that support 10s of kilovolts and hundreds of watts
• Dive into electrical power system and sub-system design trades, shaping requirements that optimize performance, efficiency, and reliability
• Lead in defining and executing comprehensive verification testing and analysis for electrical power systems
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to define power electronics hardware
• Rapidly iterate on designs, analysis and test to inform high level systems trades and steer overall product direction
• Interact with digital embedded devices, analog sensing and telemetry, system controls, etc.
• Demonstrate extreme ownership of product outcomes at every stage of development and production

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline
• 1+ years of experience in power converter development via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both (Internships, co-ops, and project teams can apply)
• Previous experience working with magnetics and design of custom transformers and inductors, including planar magnetics
• Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of power electronics

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in electrical engineering or related field
• Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation
• Strong grasp of analog control and discrete logic design
• Working experience in voltage and current mode control and compensation design
• Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components
• Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability
• Familiar with failure mode effects and criticality analysis
• Practical skills with in-lab impedance measurement and loop-gain measurement
• Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills

Additional Requirements

• Willing to work extended hours and some weekends if needed for mission critical deadlines

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.