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PCB Designer (Starlink) Verified today

SpaceX · Redmond, WA · Electronics · first seen 2026-10-28
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PCB Designer (Starlink)

SpaceX is deploying Starlink, the world's largest satellite constellation, providing fast, reliable internet to 7M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system: thousands of satellites, consumer receivers, and the software that brings it all together.

As a PCB Designer, you will be responsible for creating layouts for all our in-house board designs. You will partner closely with Hardware Development Engineers as they develop schematics, providing expertise and recommendations at each design review. You will contribute to a variety of design mixes from radio phased arrays to solar power converters.

Responsibilities

  • Determine layer stackup, perform component package selection, component placement, and 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 and 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 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

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range:

  • Level 1: $105,000 - $145,000
  • Level 2: $120,000 - $175,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is one part of your total rewards package. You may 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 receive comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may 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 for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.