{"id":3249753,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind","title":"Optical Test Engineer, AI Satellites (Starmind)","company":{"id":66,"name":"SpaceX","domain":"spacex.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacex","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":85,"open_postings":53,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.396,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":78,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bastrop, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":87000,"max_usd":159000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":108},"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-13T16:21:11Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T07:40:27Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":78,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":78},"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.\nOPTICAL TEST ENGINEER, AI SATELLITES (STARMIND) \nSpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world’s largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Realizing this vision demands highly reliable, high performance electrical hardware ranging from power electronics, high speed digital systems, mixed signal designs, robust avionics, networking, and custom compute electronics. These systems must operate in the extreme environment of space while delivering the connectivity, control, power distribution, and processing needed for orbital AI inference. As we continue to upgrade and expand the constellation, we’re looking for best-in-class engineers to join the team. \nAs an Optical Test Engineer you will be responsible for designing, building, and operating optical metrology equipment to validate optical flight hardware. This role will interface closely with the design and production teams to validate that hardware meets the design intent. In this role, you will need to automate test procedures and data collection for high volume products, as well as train other team members on the operation of optical test and metrology equipment. \nRESPONSIBILITIES \nDesign, build, and operate optical metrology and test systems \nUse test data to troubleshoot issues with optical flight hardware \nAutomate optical test equipment and data collection \nInstruct technicians on operation of test equipment \nInform optical flight hardware designs to enable efficient test operations \nApply optics and photonics knowledge to laser communication system trades and component development, including design, analysis, and validation \nParticipate in validation testing, including performance characterization, lot acceptance testing, design qualification testing and reliability testing \nDevelop test plans and maintain design specifications and capabilities data \nDesign test fixtures for engineering and production tests \nDevelop production procedures and processes and manage the transition of parts and assemblies from development to high-rate production \nExecute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency \nBASIC QUALIFICATIONS \nBachelor’s degree in physics or an engineering discipline \n2+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, laser technology (university lab, student project, or internship experience qualifies) \nPREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE \nMaster's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline \nHands-on experience with optical test equipment (power meters, interferometers, laser sources, etc.) \nProficiency with optical analysis tools such as ZEMAX \nKnowledge of and experience in lasers, photodiodes, fiber optics, optical alignment/troubleshooting techniques, and signal integrity principles \nKnowledge of and experience in digital communication protocols, test and measurement, and troubleshooting \nExperience designing and building custom optical assemblies \nExperience designing, developing, or testing space qualified hardware \nBasic proficiency in CAD and knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals \nProficiency in programming languages (Python, C/C++) and software version control \nStrong sense of accountability and integrity \nAbility to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere \nExcellent written and verbal communication skills \nADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS \nAbility to lift heavy objects, up to 25 Ibs. unassisted \nWilling to work weekend and extended hours as needed \nITAR REQUIREMENTS:\nTo 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. \nSpaceX 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.\nApplicants 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 .","description_format":"text","description_chars":4925,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Communications","Launch Services","Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-25T20:26:37Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":32,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.718,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":78,"expected_fill_days":78,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:tail","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-31T09:40:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":14655,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-01T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":66},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=66"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fspacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fspacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fspacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/spacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspacex-optical-test-engineer-ai-satellites-starmind"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3249753}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"spacex.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3249753},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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