Sr. Electrical Engineer (Crew Starship Avionics)

The Sr. Electrical Engineer (Crew Starship Avionics) at SpaceX is responsible for the rapid development of high-reliability spacecraft electronics and systems for Crew Starship vehicles. This includes overseeing flight hardware from conception to operations, providing technical leadership, and managing system architecture trades to ensure optimal design and functionality.

Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in designing electronics. Preferred qualifications include experience in high-reliability applications, developing new hardware, and strong proficiency in circuit design tools and lab equipment.

The ideal candidate for this role should have a passion for spaceflight and show proficiency in designing complex electronics. Skills in circuit simulation, schematic capture, board layout, and software for test automation (such as MATLAB or Python) are highly desired, alongside cross-functional project management skills.

As a Sr. Electrical Engineer (Crew Starship Avionics) at SpaceX, you will collaborate with various departments, including liaising with NASA counterparts, to ensure the seamless integration and performance of avionics systems. Building strong professional relationships across teams is essential for the role.

The salary range for the Sr. Electrical Engineer (Crew Starship Avionics) position at SpaceX is between $130,000 to $200,000 per year. The actual salary may vary based on experience and qualifications. Additional compensation may include stock options and a comprehensive benefits package.

In answering, emphasize specific projects where you designed high-reliability electronics. Focus on the challenges faced, the methodologies you used, and the impact your work had on project outcomes.

Discuss your risk assessment strategies, the tools you utilize, and how you prioritize risk mitigation throughout the design process. Share examples where your approach led to successful project delivery.

Provide a clear example of a project where you completed tasks under pressing timelines. Highlight how you organized priorities, allocated resources, and adapted to changing requirements to meet deadlines successfully.

Enumerate the specific tools you've used for circuit design, such as Altium, Circuit Maker, or any simulation software. Illustrate how these tools enhanced your design process and outcomes.

Elaborate on the validation testing methods you have applied, the design specifications evaluated, and how your testing led to improvements in design reliability. Real-world examples will strengthen your answer.

Articulate your communication skills and collaborative tools that facilitate teamwork. Give examples of cross-functional projects where your efforts helped integrate different engineering perspectives.

Discuss the nature of your collaborations with NASA, and detail specific challenges—be it technical or procedural—along with how you addressed these challenges while maintaining project momentum.

Share specific projects where you were involved in PCB design and layout, the software tools used, and any challenges you encountered in ensuring signal integrity and manufacturability.

Talk about workshops, online courses, or professional engineering organizations you are part of. Explain how you incorporate new technologies into your work, ensuring continuous improvement.

Convey your passion for space exploration and how it aligns with SpaceX's mission. Discuss your eagerness to contribute to innovative projects that push the boundaries of electronics in aerospace.