SpaceX
Mechanical Engineer - Battery Pack, Satellites (Starlink)
About this role
SpaceX seeks a Mechanical Engineer to design and develop battery packs for Starlink satellites, focusing on cell-to-pack integration of 2170-format cylindrical cells for next-generation orbit operations. You'll optimize energy density and manufacturability while ensuring reliability through rigorous testing and cross-functional collaboration.
What you'll do
- Design satellite battery packs integrating thousands of 2170-format cylindrical cells at high voltage
- Perform CAD and FEA analysis of mechanical, electrical, and thermal performance across ground validation and on-orbit conditions
- Execute design trades to maximize Wh/kg and minimize $/kWh while maintaining manufacturability and fault tolerance
- Conduct DFMEAs and root-cause analyses to anticipate failure modes and ensure long-term reliability
- Validate designs through qualification testing including vibration, thermal, environmental, and vacuum testing
- Partner with manufacturing teams to develop in-house production processes and own pack lifecycle from component sourcing through launch
What they're looking for
- CAD software (NX preferred)
- FEA and analysis tools (ANSYS, FEMAP preferred)
- Battery pack design and manufacturing
- Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
- Thermal and mechanical analysis
- Design of experiments and statistical process control
- PCB mechanical design and PCBA integration
- Project leadership on complex mechanical systems
Benefits
- Medical, vision, and dental coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Stock options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- 3 weeks paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays annually
- Paid parental leave and disability insurance
- Company shuttles from Seattle-area locations to Redmond office
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SpaceX
SpaceX develops advanced spacecraft and satellite systems, including the Starshield government satellite constellation and Starfall re-entry cargo capsule for global delivery. The company is hiring engineers in avionics integration, software test automation, mechanical design, and hardware reliability to validate flight-critical systems and ensure mission success.
- Website
- spacex.com
Likely interview questions
- Describe your experience designing or analyzing battery packs, particularly with cylindrical cell formats—what were the key trade-offs you navigated?
- Walk us through your approach to conducting a DFMEA for a high-voltage battery assembly and how you've used insights to improve design robustness.