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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission-critical deadlines