Join SpaceX as a Mechanical Integration & Test Engineer to ensure user products meet mission-critical requirements.
Posted by employer 10 hours ago
First seen on Joblaze 3 hours ago
Last verified on the company career page 3 hours ago
What you'll build
- Manage integration build flow and test operations
- Evaluate proposed designs for manufacturability and integration
- Interface with engineers and technicians
- Develop and refine manufacturing assembly procedures
- Evaluate non-conformances to determine root cause
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of design and/or hands-on manufacturing experience
Nice to have
- Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance
- Master's degree in an engineering discipline
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, or other programming language
- Experience with integration and testing of propulsion, thermal, electrical and/or structural systems
- Experience integrating avionics systems
Practical constraints
- Some travel to other SpaceX sites may be required, up to 10%
- Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
Requirements
- Experience
- 1+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Mechanical Integration & Test Engineer for Starshield at SpaceX focuses on developing and refining manufacturing and testing procedures for user products like terminals and ground stations. This role requires a solid understanding of engineering principles, hands-on manufacturing experience, and familiarity with programming languages such as MATLAB or Python. It is suited for individuals with at least one year of relevant experience who can navigate complex challenges with minimal oversight. The position involves close collaboration with technicians and engineers, emphasizing a practical, hands-on approach to integration and testing.
Joblaze insights
- Listed today — first seen on Joblaze October 17, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page October 17, 2026.
- Salary band is below the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$129,800).
- Starts above 27% of 22 comparable junior other roles in United States that list Python we track (median $102,500 across 14 companies). See Python salary trends
- Python appears in 9.4% of 498 comparable junior other roles in United States; MATLAB appears in 1.4% of 498 comparable junior other roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Mechanical Integration & Test Engineer, User Products (Starshield) role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in Hawthorne, CA, United States.
- What's the salary range?
- SpaceX lists $100,000–$117,500 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 1 year of relevant experience for this Mechanical Integration & Test Engineer, User Products (Starshield) role.
- Where is the role based?
- SpaceX is hiring for this position in Hawthorne, CA, United States.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: MATLAB, Python.
- What seniority level is this role?
- SpaceX targets junior candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Mechanical Integration & Test Engineer, User Products (Starshield) role at SpaceX.
From the original posting
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.
MECHANICAL INTEGRATION & TEST ENGINEER, USER PRODUCTS (STARSHIELD)
Integration and Test Engineers are responsible for generating and understanding manufacturing and test procedures for Starshield user products including user terminals, ground stations, gateways and more. Engineers on this team must have a working knowledge of design, schematics, operations, manufacturing, and testing. A successful Integration and Test 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 work centers at the company, and the team is frequently asked to tackle new, inter-departmental development projects. The ultimate goal of the Integration and Test team is to ensure that our satellites and customers 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 the vehicle integration and test flow
- Evaluate non-conformances to determine root cause and create actionable items and system improvements
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of design and/or hands-on manufacturing experience (internships, collegiate engineering projects such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, etc., or professional industry experience will be considered)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance
- Master's degree in an engineering discipline
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, or other programming language
- Experience with integration and testing of propulsion, thermal, electrical and/or structural systems
- Experience integrating avionics systems
- Documentation and configuration management experience
- Experience writing test plans, 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 other SpaceX sites may be required as needed, up to 10%
- Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet mission-critical deadlines
- This position is very hands-on and requires one to be on their feet for extended periods of time, up to 4 hours at a time
- Will often work side by side with our technicians and must be able to climb ladders, stoop, bend, crawl, and work in tight spaces
- An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
Integration & Test Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00/per year
Integration & Test Engineer/Level II: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00/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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.
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 accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.