Sr. Mechanical Integration & Test Engineer (Starshield)
- US citizenship
- ITAR / US person
- Top Secret clearance
How this pay compares
This posting states $130k–$180k a year. Open test engineer jobs in California post a median of $155k a year, the middle half $135k–$177k, across 179 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
About the job
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.
MECHANICAL INTEGRATION & TEST ENGINEER (STARSHIELD) Integration and Test engineers are responsible for understanding every system on the satellite. Engineers on this team must have a working knowledge of design, schematics, operations, manufacturing, testing, and flight.
A successful Integration and Test Engineer demonstrates engineering intuition and critical thinking and is comfortable working under ambiguous requirements with minimal oversight. Combining these skills, these engineers face challenges across a wide variety of work centers at the company, and the team is frequently asked to tackle new, inter-departmental development projects.
The ultimate goal of the Integration and Test team is to ensure that satellites achieve their mission. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Manage integration build flow and test operations - Evaluate proposed designs for manufacturability and integration - Interface with both engineers and technicians to optimize manufacturing and automation - Develop and refine manufacturing assembly procedures based on lessons learned - Enable day-to-day execution of the vehicle integration and test flow - Evaluate non-conformances to determine root cause and create actionable items and system improvements ## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline - 5+ years of professional design and/or hands-on manufacturing experience ## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance - Master's degree in an engineering discipline - Experience with MATLAB, Python, or other programming language - Experience with integration and testing of propulsion, thermal, electrical and/or structural systems - Experience integrating avionics systems - Documentation and configuration management experience - Experience writing test plans, procedures, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale - Experience in a production environment - Demonstrated engineering intuition, critical thinking, and comfort with ambiguity ## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - Some travel to other SpaceX sites may be required as needed, up to 10% - Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet mission-critical deadlines - This position is very hands-on and requires one to be on their feet for extended periods of time, up to 4 hours at a time - Will often work side by side with our technicians and must be able to climb ladders, stoop, bend, crawl, and work in tight spaces - 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 ## Pay range Sr.
Integration & Test Engineer/: $130,000.00 - $180,000.00/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 .
From SpaceX's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New systems engineering, integration and test jobs in space in California, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About SpaceX
Designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.
Pay on its listings: 53.2% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on SpaceX's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More systems engineering, integration and test jobs in space
- Software System Engineer
- Engineer Senior Principal - CONOPS - $10,000 SIGN-ON BONUS$132,962–$226,035/yr
- Engineer Senior Principal – Space Vehicle Systems / Simulators$132,962–$226,035/yr
- Associate Manager, Integration and Test Engineering 1
- Scientist, Systems Engineering (Chief Systems Engineer): Sign-on bonus ($50k max) 1
- Hardware Test Engineer$110,000–$176,000/yr
A systems, integration or test engineer?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
SpaceX openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from SpaceX's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.