Battery Engineer - Battery Cells, Satellites (Starlink)

BATTERY ENGINEER - BATTERY CELLS, SATELLITES (STARLINK)

SpaceX is looking for a Battery Engineer to help optimize the next generation of battery cells for the Starlink satellite program. This individual is ultimately responsible for the definition, operation, performance, and lifetime of battery cells; ensuring every gram of battery mass launched to orbit is maximally utilized over the vehicle’s life.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Guide battery cell-level development roadmap to maximize Wh/kg and lifetime


• Benchmark existing and future cell technologies against Starlink requirements


• Identify primary degradation modes, optimizing pack-level operation & future ground tests


• Accelerate testing from initial characterization through long-duration cycling


• Conduct cell teardowns and sample preparation for materials characterization


• Define manufacturing requirements, specifications, and validation of production cells


• Expand cell modelling capabilities through semi-empirical and physics-based modelling


• Collaborate with teams covering abuse testing, on-orbit operation, cell-to-pack design, and thermal analysis to achieve high-reliability operation of millions of cells in orbit

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or another STEM discipline


• 3+ years of hands-on work with lithium-ion battery cells (co-op/thesis work can apply)


• 1+ years of professional experience with battery cell-level manufacturing or testing (co-op/thesis work can apply)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced degree in Physics, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or another STEM discipline


• Proficiency in MATLAB or Python, with strong numerical methods experience


• Experience with industry-standard battery cycling equipment and test techniques


• Experience with battery degradation mode analysis, both destructive & nondestructive


• Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and process qualification


• Familiarity with battery cell manufacturers and industry trends

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary


• Must be willing to travel as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Battery Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00/per year
Battery Engineer/Level II: $115,000.00 - $135,000.00/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. 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