PCB Designer (Starlink)

PCB DESIGNER (STARLINK)

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 7M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact. As we continue to upgrade and expand the constellation, we’re looking for best-in-class engineers to join the team.

As a PCB Designer at SpaceX, you’ll be responsible for creating the layout for all our in-house board designs. You’re not just connecting the dots. Here you’ll partner closely with Hardware Development Engineers as they develop their schematics, providing your expertise and recommendations at each design review, and iterating your designs to come up with the best possible solutions. You’ll contribute to a variety of design mixes from radio phased arrays to solar power converters and more.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Determine layer stackup, perform component package selection, component placement, routing feasibility studies of printed circuit boards (PCB)
• Perform multilayer PCB layout (2-20+ layers), including component placement, high-speed digital, analog, RF, and power routing
• Perform DRC/ERC checks, peer reviews, and design audits; collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineers to capture design requirements
• Manage high-speed design constraints to ensure signal / power integrity, thermal performance, impedance control and EMI/EMC compliance
• Create all documentation required for fabrication and assembly of PCB/PCBAs
• Analyze designs for manufacturability; incorporate production feedback from fabrication houses and assembly partners to reduce costs and improve yield
• Collaborate with internal manufacturing teams and PCB vendors to continually improve design rules, constraints and design for test and manufacturing guidelines
• Utilize PCB design tools, maintain and evaluate new tools, and train team members to use tools 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and 1+ years of professional experience with PCB layout OR 3+ years of professional experience with PCB layout in lieu of a degree (internships and club/project work applies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of experience with PCB layout and routing in one or all of the following areas: modern passive and active electronics components, surface-mount, RF components, ball-grid array and similar fine pitch, or high pin density components 
• 1+ years of experience with ECAD libraries and library configuration management
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout software (Xpedition, Allegro, Altium, KiCad)
• Experience with layout of mixed analog and digital designs, high speed buses, FPGA, DRAM and CPU designs, power supplies, DC-DC converters, transmission lines, impedance-controlled traces and power traces
• Demonstrated understanding of design for manufacturability, assembly, and test
• Proficiency in generating fabrication outputs (Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, drill files), DFM/DFA analysis, constraint-driven design, and collaboration with libraries (symbols, footprints, 3D models)
• Experience with MIL-STD, commercial and IPC standards and design
• Proficiency in writing code and/or leveraging AI tools to automate CAD workflow. (Python, Altium/Xpedition scripting, Allegro SKILL)
• Demonstrated cross functional project management skills and ability to collaborate with other engineering disciplines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $105,000.00 - $145,000.00
Level 2: $120,000.00 - $175,000.00

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 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. 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.