SpaceX

Mission Integration Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA$100k–$117.5kmidAdded today

About this role

SpaceX seeks a Mission Integration Engineer to lead technical integration of government satellite missions under the Starshield program, managing customer relationships and system trades from proposal through on-orbit operations. This role bridges customer needs with SpaceX's spacecraft and launch capabilities, requiring strong problem-solving skills in a fast-paced defense-focused environment.

What you'll do

Serve as primary technical contact for government customers throughout mission lifecycle from initial studies through launch and on-orbit activation
Translate customer requirements into technical specifications, verification plans, and operational procedures
Lead system trades and trade studies across launch vehicles, spacecraft, and sensor architectures
Interface with customers at meetings and reviews to manage expectations and verify mission success
Collaborate across internal and external teams to drive program execution and resolve technical challenges
Support proposal development, design reviews, testing phases, and mission commissioning

What they're looking for

Spacecraft mission design and integration
Systems engineering and trade-study analysis
Technical program management
Government contracting and requirements management
Customer communication and stakeholder management
Test planning and verification
Project coordination across multiple workstreams
Problem-solving under pressure

Benefits

Base salary: $100,000 - $140,000 (depending on level and experience)
Long-term stock incentives and discretionary bonuses
Employee stock purchase plan with discount
Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
401(k) retirement benefits
Opportunity to work on national security space missions

Likely interview questions

Describe your experience integrating spacecraft systems or managing technical aspects of a multi-phase development program from concept through flight.
How have you managed competing priorities or requirements while maintaining schedule and quality in a dynamic engineering environment?

Tell us about a time you served as a technical interface between internal teams and external stakeholders—how did you ensure clear communication and resolve disagreements?
What experience do you have with system trades, trade studies, or design alternatives analysis, and how did you evaluate solutions against technical and programmatic objectives?
Walk us through your approach to translating customer requirements into actionable engineering specifications and verification plans.
Why are you interested in working on government/national security space systems, and how do you view the security clearance requirement?
Describe a complex technical problem you've solved where you had to balance innovation with practical constraints like schedule, budget, or existing architecture.

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