Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink)

spacex· Starlink Satellite Mech and Electronic Production
Apply Now ↗
📍 Redmond, WA

About this role

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. MECHANICAL ENGINEER, OPTICAL PRODUCTION (STARLINK)

Engineers on this team must have a working knowledge of design, manufacturing, testing, and flight. A successful mechanical engineer demonstrates engineering intuition and critical thinking and is comfortable working under ambiguous requirements with minimal oversight. Combining these skills, these engineers face challenges across a wide variety of products and subassemblies, and the team is frequently asked to tackle new, inter-departmental development projects. The ultimate goal of the team is to deliver the optical assemblies required for our satellites to achieve their mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Manage integration build flow and test operations
  • Evaluate proposed designs for manufacturability and integration
  • Interface with both engineers and technicians to optimize manufacturing and automation
  • Develop and refine manufacturing assembly procedures based on lessons learned
  • Enable day-to-day execution of product integration and test flow
  • Evaluate non-conformances to determine root cause and create actionable items and system improvements
  • Work with upstream and downstream partner teams to drive improvements at the system level

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of professional mechanical design or hands-on manufacturing experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Master's degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
  • Experience with integration and testing of optical, mechanical, propulsion, thermal, electrical, and/or structural systems
  • Documentation and configuration management experience
  • Experience writing test plans and procedures and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
  • Experience in a production environment
  • Demonstrated engineering intuition, critical thinking, and comfort with ambiguity

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Some travel to our launch sites may be required as needed, up to 10%
  • Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:                          

Pay range:          
Mechanical Engineer/Senior: $130,000.00 - 180,000.00/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.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to 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 will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.

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.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) position at spacex?
The salary for this Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) role at spacex is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) position at spacex located?
This Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) role at spacex is based in Redmond, WA. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Which team or department does the Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) at spacex belong to?
This Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) position is part of the Starlink Satellite Mech and Electronic Production department at spacex. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) position at spacex?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to spacex's official application portal hosted on greenhouse where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) job at spacex posted?
This Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink) position at spacex was posted on Feb 4, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Optical Production (Starlink)
spacex
Apply for this role ↗

You'll be redirected to spacex's official application page on Greenhouse.