Lead Electrical Test Engineer (Starlink) Verified today
Lead Electrical Test Engineer (Starlink)
SpaceX is deploying Starlink, the world's largest satellite constellation, delivering fast reliable internet to millions worldwide. We design, build, test and operate thousands of satellites, consumer receivers, and the software that integrates them.
As Lead Electrical Test Engineer, you are the technical owner of high-volume PCB electrical test at the Starlink factory in Bastrop. You own in-circuit test, flying probe, test programs, multi-unit fixtures and racks, test PCBAs, coverage, and first-article processes. You spend substantial time on the testers themselves and technically lead test engineers, technicians and specialists. You report to the Electrical Test Engineering Manager.
Responsibilities
- Own electrical test production program quality: in-circuit (Teradyne or equivalent) and flying-probe programs, fixtures, correlation, change control, and first-article for new products and panel revisions, including yield, false-fail/false-pass, and throughput.
- Design and own test fixtures and racks for multi-unit production test: mechanical structure, unit presentation, and electrical interface, designed for production rate and durability.
- Design and own test PCBAs: schematic, layout, bring-up, and fabrication/assembly of boards used in the test process.
- Debug yield, false-fail, and false-pass on the production floor; drive technical root cause with CAM and process engineering.
- Develop and maintain Design For Test (DFT) guidelines and work with design and CAM teams to implement them on new panels.
- Develop test strategies, perform test coverage analyses, and conduct formal test strategy reviews with peer teams.
- Write or maintain automation software to interact with testers, instrumentation, and production documentation systems.
- Technically lead test engineers, technicians, and specialists on programs, fixtures/racks, test PCBAs, and debug.
- Spend substantial time on individual technical work (programs, fixtures/racks, test PCBAs, equipment).
- Travel to other SpaceX factories to transfer working production programs and fixtures as needed.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in high-volume electrical or manufacturing test (ICT, flying probe, functional, or equivalent production board test).
- 2+ years of experience mentoring engineers on a test process.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- High-volume PCB or PCBA production test in a factory (yield, escapes, units per hour).
- Hands-on fixture and multi-unit rack design (mechanical and electrical) used in production.
- Designed and released test PCBAs (schematic and layout) and owned fabrication and assembly.
- Hands-on in-circuit test (ICT/Teradyne or equivalent) and/or flying probe: programs, fixtures, and debug.
- Experience analyzing circuits, developing functional or in-circuit test plans, and performing test coverage analysis.
- Experience with test equipment and measurement techniques (oscilloscope, multimeter, electronic load, source measurement unit, etc.).
- Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage.
- Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis.
- Programming experience (Python, C/C++) for tester automation.
- Experience interacting with repositories using Git.
- Experience closing a yield, coverage, or throughput gap with data on a production test process.
Additional Requirements
- Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines.
- U.S. citizenship or equivalent ITAR authorization required (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158).
