Sr. Electrical Design Engineer (Starshield)

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-04-22

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. ELECTRICAL DESIGN ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. As an electrical development engineer on the Starshield team, you will demonstrate extreme ownership through detailed and thorough design, hardware bring- up/characterization/testing, and requirements generation/verification - ultimately seeing your hardware through all aspects of its life cycle.

Starshield is a quickly growing program with a wide range of engaging opportunities from blank-sheet design to on-orbit troubleshooting. You will work with many cross-disciplinary teams and will need to think at a system level to ensure that your design is viable. Our development timelines are quick and you will need to rigorously explore solutions for previously unsolved or unknown problems. Every day we push the limits of what is possible through innovation, determination, and teamwork to drive the mission to success.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Rapidly design, develop and test highly reliable electronics for communicating with our satellites
• Drive electrical architecture, specification, component selection, circuit board design, implementation, verification, board bring up and debugging
• Partner with software, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing teams and production test teams

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering
• 5+ years of professional experience designing electronics products

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or similar engineering degree
• 3+ years of professional experience rapidly designing and delivering highly reliable products
• 3+ years of electronic product experience designing hardware from concept through production; strong emphasis on full life cycle development of new hardware products and not small incremental updates to legacy hardware
• 2+ years of experience designing and implementing mixed-signal circuit boards from concept through production using processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, multi-GHz SerDes, DRAM interfaces (DDR4), I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, and power supply components
• 2+ years of professional experience testing, troubleshooting and debugging electronics
• 2+ years of professional experience with fast-paced projects
• Strong understanding of computers and programming languages (Python, C/C++)
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role
• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:    
Sr. Electrical Design Engineer: $140,000.00 - $205,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program. 

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also 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 also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

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

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Explore around this job

Field: Engineering, Construction and Energy Sub-niche: Manufacturing and hardware engineering All jobs at SpaceX Jobs in California Jobs in Hawthorne, CA Hawthorne city guide California state guide Los Angeles County economy Pay for this occupation (BLS) All 170 open jobs for this occupation

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About the role

This is a — role in the Engineering, Construction and Energy field (Manufacturing and hardware engineering) at SpaceX.

The closest occupation in the official wage statistics is Electrical engineers (a match by name, so treat it as an estimate). Nationally its median pay is $120,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), employment is projected to change by +9.9% between 2025 and 2035, and the typical entry route is: Bachelor's degree.

In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area the median for this occupation is $139,780 a year with 8,970 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This is a statistic for the occupation, not an offer from this employer.

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How to prepare and behave

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• Read the whole description and match your examples to its requirements; use the same words the posting uses where they are true for you.
• Research the employer before the interview: what it does, who its customers are and recent news; prepare two or three questions about the work.
• Arrive early (or log in early for a video call), dress one step above the daily dress code, and test your camera and audio beforehand.
• Answer with short stories: the situation, what you did and the result. Give numbers when you have them and never invent them.
• Be honest about gaps; say what you did to learn and how fast you can close them.
• Ask about the team, the first 90 days, how success is measured and the schedule; do not open with salary and time off.
• When pay comes up, know the market range for the occupation and your lowest acceptable offer before you answer; ask for the full package in writing.
• Send a short thank-you message within a day, mentioning one thing you discussed.

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The city

The job is in Hawthorne, CA. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Hawthorne compares. Among the 145 largest places in California, Hawthorne is #101 by population, #145 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #132 for household income (#1 = highest), #24 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Los Angeles County, is #7 of 58 counties for average pay ($83,554).

The place in numbers

Hawthorne has 85,191 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.2% of the population of California. It covers 6 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 13,996 people per square mile. The median age is 33.9, 11% younger than the state median (33.9 against 37.9).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,782 a month (rent plus utilities), 12% below the state median ($1,782 against $2,036). Over a year that is 28.2% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $863,400, which is 11.4 times the median household income ($75,848); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 27.2% of households own their home, 51% below the state average (27.2% against 55.9%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area has 6,271,560 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $55,850 a year, 10% above the national median ($55,850 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (702,480 jobs, median $52,710); food preparation and serving related (588,660 jobs, median $38,460); healthcare support (537,460 jobs, median $35,630). The area is most specialised in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (2.2 times) and healthcare support (1.7 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($136,490) and legal ($128,110). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Los Angeles County was 4.5%. 68.8% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Los Angeles County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 70.3% drive alone, 3.7% use public transit, 1.5% walk, 11.1% work from home. 18.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 3% below the state average (18.8% against 19.4%).

People and education

26.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 30% below the state share (26.0% against 37.1%). 32.1% of residents were born outside the United States, 19% above the state share (32.1% against 27.0%). The poverty rate is 15.5%, 29% above the state rate (15.5% against 12.0%).

Climate

The warmest month is Aug, averaging 75°F (23.9°C), and the coolest is Dec at 53°F (11.8°C). About 332 mm (13 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Feb is the wettest month (75 mm) and Jun the driest (1 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Inglewood (3 miles, similar rent); Torrance (6 miles, rent 28% higher); Compton (7 miles, rent 7% lower); Carson (8 miles, rent 10% higher). Rent differences are against Hawthorne; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Hawthorne →California guideAll jobs in Hawthorne

Official links for Hawthorne

• Official website of Hawthorne: cityofhawthorne.org
• Census Bureau data profile for Hawthorne
• Official website of Los Angeles County: lacounty.gov
• Official state website: ca.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: California

These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.

Where to live

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Career paths

Occupations close to Electrical engineers in the official classification, with pay, outlook and whether there are open jobs for them on this site right now.

Distances

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The employer

SpaceX is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

We do not hold headcount or revenue for this employer. Check its careers site and, if it is listed on a stock exchange, its public filings (SEC EDGAR search).

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at SpaceX

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Manufacturing and hardware engineering

More jobs in Hawthorne, CA

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FAQ

What is the Sr. Electrical Design Engineer (Starshield) job at SpaceX?

A private-sector role in engineering, construction and energy (manufacturing and hardware engineering) listed 201 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Hawthorne, CA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay. For the closest occupation (Electrical engineers) the national median is $120,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Hawthorne is $1,782 a month and median household income $75,848 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-04-22 (201 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse manufacturing and hardware engineering jobs in California.

Sources and terms

• Job data: SpaceX careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-04-22). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)