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.
MANAGER, VEHICLE ENGINEERING (STARLINK AVIATION)
Starlink Aviation installs high-speed, low-latency broadband on aircraft. The Manager, Vehicle Engineering manages the vehicle leads who own airframe product lines: the roadmap of airframe features, demand, delivery, and performance.
This is a senior engineering manager who is still a strong individual-contributor engineer and planner. The role reports to the Director, Starlink Aviation Mission Management. Success is released, applicable designs and factory capacity allocated so customer activations can occur on schedule, with hardware that remains in service.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Hire, develop, and performance-manage vehicle leads for assigned aircraft types
- Own the product roadmap for each assigned airframe, from prospects and development through customer launch and in-service reliability, including the features required to meet customer needs.
- Sequence demand, design changes, configuration upgrades, and improvements in installation time, reliability, and cost into production, with named owners and measurable results.
- Own the live plan. Keep aircraft data, intake forms, surveys, and customer requirements current with Fleet Operations and Mission Management so the plan stays detailed and executable.
- Own customer requirements for the life of the product. Question, accept, or reject them as appropriate, decide customer-impacting trades, and contribute to Statements of Work before deal closure.
- Own the fleet configuration matrix and kit definition, including antenna, power, router, cabin networking, and related hardware. Decide which configuration applies from customer data, in production and in the field.
- Own engineering change and issue records for assigned part numbers. Release masters, bills of materials, drawings, and change records in ERP/PLM before production commits a slot.
- Set installation architecture standards for antenna mounting, equipment placement, power, harnessing, and cabin networking, and close trades on mass, drag, radio-frequency performance, and install hours.
- Align software, maintenance, integration design, operations, and quality to one shared, executable requirements set for the airframe and the customer.
- Lead certification strategy and execution, including supplemental type certificates, approved model lists, test plans, conformity, and engagement with the FAA, EASA, and designated engineering representatives.
- Own production and supply-chain readiness. Secure and allocate factory capacity and build-plan positions so output matches customer activation priorities.
- Drive the airframe schedule, clear critical-path blockers, and escalate in time to hold or improve customer launch dates.
- Own in-service reliability, including field failures, dispatch risk, and the design queue that keeps aircraft flying. Turn on-wing findings into the standard design or process.
- Support first-of-type installations on site, and travel to airline and maintenance sites for first articles, fleet assessments, and escalations.
- Be the single point of contact for the airframe’s status, capabilities, and production readiness, coordinating certification, manufacturing, engineering, quality, Mission Management, and the customer.
- Brief leadership on roadmap status, design readiness, production rate, and risk to activation dates.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, or other engineering discipline
- 7+ years of professional experience taking electro-mechanical or avionics products from design through certification and fielded operation
- 3+ years leading engineers who own a product line, vehicle, or similarly scoped system
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience owning a hardware roadmap and a production or build plan against customer delivery dates
- Experience as a technical program manager or product manager for certified airborne hardware
- Direct experience with FAA/EASA certification (STC, PMA, DO-160, ARP4754 or equivalent)
- Experience integrating radio-frequency, power, and networked systems on aircraft
- Proficiency with ERP and PLM systems for engineering masters, manufacturing bills of materials, and change control
- Experience introducing a product to production rate and supporting it in the field
- Demonstrated ability to resolve system-level failures on wing and to lock the fix into design or process
- Record of planning factory or supplier capacity against a demand signal
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support first-article installs, certification tests, and in-service issues
- Must be willing to travel, including internationally, 25–40%
- Must be able to lift 25 lbs unassisted
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
$165,000.00 - $245,000.00
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.
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.
