{"id":1839380,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink","title":"Space Lasers Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)","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":88,"open_postings":34,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.265,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":81,"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","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":["Redmond, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":105000,"max":145000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":145000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-29T18:49:53Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-26T17:45:05Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":89,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":89},"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.\nSPACE LASERS ENGINEER, SATELLITES (STARLINK)\nThe Starlink Space Lasers team develops, produces, and deploys the most cutting-edge satellite free-space optical communication systems in the world. We are looking for engineers to contribute to the development of laser communications terminals and imaging products for the groundbreaking constellation of Starlink satellites. All SpaceX optical systems (laser communication terminal and other optical products) require a blend of theoretical expertise, practical implementation skills, and a passion for solving complex problems in real-time, resource-constrained systems.\nAs a SpaceX optical engineer, you will be responsible for free-space optical system design, validation, and operation. You will shape the future of laser communication systems and directly contribute to mission-critical applications such as next-generation star tracking system for precise navigation in space environments. You will build reliable, efficient systems by leading\nRESPONSIBILITIES:\nApply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation\nRepresent the optical system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution\nDefine requirements for high-performant optical systems in challenging environmental conditions\nLead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing\nParticipate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing\nDefine and lead field testing of optical experiments and laser communication systems\nReview test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution\nMaintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data\nInterface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals\nCollaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical testing\nRepresent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors\nBASIC QUALIFICATIONS:\nBachelor’s degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline\n2+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, laser technology, or precision mechanical design or testing (university lab, student project, or internship experience qualifies)\n1+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)\nPREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:\nMaster's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline\nProficiency with optical analysis tools such as Zemax\nHands-on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of laser communication systems\nKnowledge of and experience in lasers, photodiodes, fiber optics, optics testing/troubleshooting techniques, and signal integrity principles\nKnowledge of and experience in free-space optical principles, optical component testing/troubleshooting techniques, precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes\nExperience leading development of commercial communications products\nExperience with hardware development for high-reliability applications\nExperience with pointing, acquisition, and tracking\nKnowledge of and experience in atmospheric optical effects\nAbility to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data\nAbility to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere\nCompetence with optical test equipment (power meters, interferometer, laser sources)\nExperience with infrared system alignment and characterization\nCompetence with Python scripting and a Linux operating system environment\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills\nADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:\nWorking extended hours and weekends as needed\nCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:\nPay Range:\nLevel 1: $105,000.00 - $145,000.00\nLevel 2: $120,000.00 - $175,000.00\nYour 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.\nBase 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 in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.\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":6487,"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":["Life insurance","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"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":"2026-10-04T15:48:36Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":30,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.691,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":88,"expected_fill_days":81,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:tail","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":145000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-26T22:47:51Z","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":30904,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z"}},"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-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink"},{"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-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink"},{"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-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink"},{"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-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspacex-space-lasers-engineer-satellites-starlink"}]}