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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Integration & Test Engineer (Starshield) - **Company:** Space Exploration Technologies Corp. - **Location:** Hawthorne, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $130,000.0 - $215,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer-Aided Design, Configuration Management, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Power BI, SQL Databases, Strategies of Testing, Database Tools and Utilities - **Published:** July 30, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=45d407083e85f6d6 ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics. * 2+ years of professional design and/or manufacturing experience within aerospace, automotive, industrial, or consumer electronics industries. * 1+ years of leadership experience leading teams, projects or people. PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * 5+ years of professional design and/or hands-on manufacturing experience. * 3+ years of prior leadership experience leading teams, projects or people. * Previous experience in a professional leadership role. * Master's degree in engineering or related discipline. * Strong sense of accountability, integrity, work ethic, and drive to succeed. * Strong interpersonal and organizational skills. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills. * Experience with build, integration, and testing of complex propulsion, thermal, electrical and/or structural parts, assemblies, and systems. * Experience working in a production environment with both high rate and high mix of products. * Experience succeeding in a rapidly evolving and schedule-driven production environment with process development of high-reliability and high-quality hardware from R&D to high-volume manufacturing. * Experience making impactful decisions using engineering intuition and critical thinking without all information being available. * Professional experience working with large assembly moves (e.g., crane operations). * Experience writing work instructions, test plans, and procedures. * Experience with documentation and configuration management. * Experience with mechanical component and/or tooling design and analysis (3D computer-aided design). * Knowledge of available manufacturing techniques, processes, and equipment capabilities. * Experience with PCB/PCBA fabrication and testing methodologies. * Experience working with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) and familiarity with complex tolerance stack-ups. * Basic proficiency with using SQL, Power BI, and other database tools to drive decision making. * Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Metrology, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Control Plans, and various problem-solving approaches. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: * Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed. * Must be able to travel to SpaceX and partner facilities - up to 10%. * This position is very hands-on and may require you to be on your feet for extended periods of time, up to 4 hours, and may require you to 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 applicable, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing., * 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. ## Description As a Lead Integration & Test Engineer, you will lead and grow a team of engineers and specialists charged with developing, scaling, and maintaining the manufacturing facilities and processes to build, test, integrate, and launch cutting- edge satellite hardware., * Lead a team of engineers and specialists in defining processes, shaping build, test, and shipping infrastructure, and designing fixtures/tools/production aids to produce satellites and satellite subassemblies. * Support day-to-day execution of hardware production and vehicle integration. * Ensure that satellite manufacturing is safe, secure, reliable, on time, cost effective and efficient and produces satellites that perform properly on orbit. * Challenge design requirements, delete unnecessary process steps, simplify and optimize production, accelerate build rates, and increase production line automation as appropriate. * Implement continuous improvements to upgrade current production controls, employ new ones as needed, and minimize the probability of errors. * Maintain a working knowledge of each system on the satellite including the design, schematics, operations, manufacturing, testing, and flight. * Increase program manufacturing and testing capabilities and capacity. * Evaluate non-conformances, and identifying patterns of issues to determine root cause and create actionable items and system improvements. * Identify opportunities for team growth and propose/develop training to increase the effectiveness of the engineering team with respect to company strategy. * Set clear/achievable goals and hold team members accountable for execution and continuous improvement in their area of ownership. * Own the relationship with design, supply chain, mission management, Starshield customers, and other partner teams. ## Related Videos - [From Space to Software: Reliability Lessons 40 Years After Challenger](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100283-from-space-to-software-reliability-lessons-40-years-after-challenger) - [Fault Tolerance and Consistency at Scale: Harnessing the Power of Distributed SQL Databases](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1146-fault-tolerance-and-consistency-at-scale-harnessing-the-power-of-distributed-sql-databases) - [REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and more: A comparison of modern API styles](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100247-rest-graphql-grpc-and-more-a-comparison-of-modern-api-styles) - [What I learned as a developer from accidents in space](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/642-what-i-learned-as-a-developer-from-accidents-in-space) - [Fault Tolerance and Consistency at Scale: Harnessing the Power of Distributed SQL Databases](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1520-fault-tolerance-and-consistency-at-scale-harnessing-the-power-of-distributed-sql-databases) - [Data Analytics with Microsoft Fabric: End-to-End Use Case with Data Agents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1547-data-analytics-with-microsoft-fabric-end-to-end-use-case-with-data-agents) ## Related Articles - [Why Attend a Developer Event in 2026?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/688-why-attend-a-developer-event-in-2026) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Résumé-Driven Development: How IT trends affect the job market for software developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/59-resume-driven-development-how-it-trends-affect-the-job-market-for-software-developers) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Should senior developers refuse interview coding challenges?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/29-should-senior-developers-refuse-interview-coding-challenges) - [The Prompt Engineer ✍️](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/216-the-prompt-engineer)