Sr. Power Electronics Engineer - Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (Starlink)

SR. POWER ELECTRONICS ENGINEER - TRAVELING WAVE TUBE AMPLIFIER (STARLINK)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our 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 provides fast, reliable internet to 9M+ 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 and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.

SpaceX Gateways are responsible for delivering internet from the ground to the satellites – they must be cost effective, capable of high performance in all weather conditions, and reliable over long periods of time. The traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) team is revolutionizing RF vacuum electronics to power the future of space communications with SpaceX gateways by building hardware an order of magnitude faster than traditional industry and an order of magnitude more cost-effective. In addition, we're developing our own high-voltage power supplies to drive unparalleled performance in these high-frequency, high-bandwidth amplification systems critical to our mission.

As a key player on this team, you'll lead the design of sophisticated kV-level power supplies that drive TWTA systems. From concept to deployment, you'll own the full hardware lifecycle—prototyping, testing, integration, and iteration—while collaborating closely with experts across RF engineering, mechanical design, systems integration, manufacturing, and more. If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of power electronics and want to contribute to humanity's multi-planetary future, this is your chance to make a tangible impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own hardware from conceptual design through high volume production and ground station operation


• Deliver engineering expertise in designing, analyzing, and rigorously testing of DC-DC power converters built to thrive in harsh environments


• Design power supplies that support 10s of kilovolts and hundreds of watts


• Dive into electrical power system and sub-system design trades, shaping requirements that optimize performance, efficiency, and reliability


• Lead in defining and executing comprehensive verification testing and analysis for electrical power systems


• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to define power electronics hardware


• Rapidly iterate on designs, analysis and test to inform high level systems trades and steer overall product direction


• Interact with digital embedded devices, analog sensing and telemetry, system controls, etc.


• Demonstrate extreme ownership of product outcomes at every stage of development and production

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other STEM discipline


• 5+ years of professional experience in power converter development via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both


• Previous experience working with magnetics and design of custom transformers and inductors, including planar magnetics


• Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of power electronics

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related field


• Demonstrated full-cycle ownership of a hardware project from concept to implementation


• Strong grasp of analog control and discrete logic design


• Working experience in voltage and current mode control and compensation design


• Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components


• Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability


• Familiar with failure mode effects and criticality analysis


• Practical skills with in-lab impedance measurement and loop-gain measurement


• Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing to work extended hours and some weekends if needed for mission critical deadlines

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

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