Starlink Specialist (Starlink PCB)

STARLINK SPECIALIST (STARLINK PCB)

SpaceX is leveraging our experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s largest satellite constellation and most advanced broadband internet system. We provide reliable and fast internet to millions of users worldwide, including populations with little or no connectivity, rural communities, aircraft, watercraft, and places where existing services are unreliable, too expensive, or disconnected by natural disasters. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system, thousands of satellites and consumer antennae that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing. The Starlink team is seeking out the best-in-class professionals to maximize Starlink’s potential for communities and businesses around the globe.

As a Starlink Specialist, you will take ownership of state-of-the-art production processes, equipment performance, manufacturing, and reliability by monitoring process parameters and maintaining components, with a keen eye for leading indicators of instability or malfunction, and a drive to correct those issues in advance of undesirable events. This role is critical to helping enable high-volume user terminal production. Your work will form the backbone for millions of next-generation devices used all over the world in homes, schools, businesses, vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. This team plays an instrumental role in ensuring high-speed connectivity is available to all who need it.

We are looking for talented, creative, and driven Specialists to drive manufacturing tools and processes, from initial concept development to full-scale production. You will drive the relationship between engineering, development, and production teams and will interact regularly with department leadership. The success of Starlink depends on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, security, and user experience of the products that you deliver.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Respond to production-related non-conformances (deviation and non-deviation), drive root cause analysis, and disposition according to manufacturing policies while ensuring design integrity, product quality, and delivery timelines


• Update designs and processes, when necessary, in response to manufacturing issues, parts obsolescence, system requirement changes, and technician feedback


• Review drawings and technical data packages for manufacturability and provide constructive feedback to design engineering teams


• Complete standardized testing, root cause analysis, and R&D projects


• Understand data trends and the ability to debug hardware and software failures


• Resolve production issues while ensuring design integrity, product quality, and delivery timelines


• Perform process development and validation on new models with aggressive timelines


• Facilitate a close relationship with the engineering and production teams during design, build, and test to provide design feedback


• Identify continuous improvement opportunities for yield, performance, and cost


• Define maintenance and calibration schedules


• Ensure the successful transition of products from development to volume production


• Troubleshoot, maintain, and calibrate production and manufacturing equipment and machines


• Develop a core understanding of process physics and fundamentals, such as dynamic runout and annular ring tolerances to enable continuous process optimization

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline, or high school diploma or equivalency certificate and 3+ years of professional experience in one of the following environments: Manufacturing, machining, electronics testing, laboratory, composite layup and lamination, or PCB manufacturing, in lieu of a degree

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associate or bachelor's degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline and 3+ years of professional experience in one of the following environments: Manufacturing, machining, electronics testing, laboratory, composite layup and lamination, or PCB manufacturing


• Ability to read and understand technical drawings, datasheets, and written work instructions


• Ability to solve complex problems with engineering first principles on tight schedules


• 1+ year of experience with one or more of the following:
  
  
  
  • Test equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, including replacing/reworking components (amplifiers, wire wraps, pogo pins)
  
  
  • Electrical test fixture design, qualification, implementation
  
  
  • Composite lamination and layup
  
  
  • PCB production equipment (Schmoll, Excellon, Tormach, Haas, or similar)
  
  
  • Flash trimming/routing processes, flying probe and/or automated optical inspection equipment
  
  
  • MQTT, ModBus, TCP/IP, OPC UA
  
  
  • Tooling design
  
  
  • Automation tools (Excellon, GCode, or Grbl)
  
  
  • Linear motors, air spindles, optics, and x-ray components
  
  
  • CNC machining operations
  
  


• Experience diagnosing PCB failure modes and root cause analysis


• Hands-on mechanical skills using basic tools and electro-mechanical systems


• Knowledge of quality systems, such as design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis, corrective action, and process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA)


• SPC knowledge and experience applying statistical methods to track process capability


• Experience with applying Lean manufacturing principles in a manufacturing environment


• Experience with PCB manufacturing equipment or experience with PCB processes, including copper plating, chemical etching, photolithography, layup/lamination, CNC drill/trim, wastewater treatment, and/or plasma etching systems


• Ability to create and deliver presentations for design and manufacturing readiness reviews


• Ability to troubleshoot, maintain, and calibrate equipment including vision systems, 6-DOF robots, induction heaters, and roller conveyors


• Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work one of the following schedules upon completion of training:
  
  
  
  • The work schedule will evolve over 2 phases:
  
  
  • First 6-9 months: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday - Thursday - 1st shift) OR 5:00 PM - 5:00 AM (Monday - Thursday - 2nd shift)
  
  
  • Final schedule (must be available for one of the shifts below):
    
    
    
    • A-Shift: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Sunday - Tuesday and every other Wednesday)
    
    
    • B-Shift: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Thursday - Saturday and every other Wednesday)
    
    
    • C-Shift: 5:00 PM - 5:00 AM (Sunday - Tuesday and every other Wednesday)
    
    
    • D-Shift: 5:00 PM - 5:00 AM (Thursday - Saturday and every other Wednesday)
    
    
  
  


• Must be willing to begin work training on 1st shift (5:00 AM–5:00 PM) for initial 30 days


• Must be able to work all shifts and available for overtime and weekends as needed


• Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching may be required to perform the functions of this position


• Ability to lift up to 25lbs, unassisted


• Ability to stand, climb, walk, and work with object overhead


• Willing to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors for potentially extended periods of time, including international