SpaceX Starlink · Redmond, WA

Hardware Test Engineer

Building the systems that prove hardware is ready.

I'm Yaw Boateng, a hardware test engineer focused on test infrastructure, power electronics, RF troubleshooting, and hands-on problem solving.

Explore selected work Resume / CV Get in touch

DSO-4000 // TEST BENCH

SINE / 1 kHz 1.000 kHz

CH1 500mV/div

50.0 MS/s

TRIG: AUTO

Tektronix & Keysight instrumentation

Current Role: SpaceX Starlink
Core Focus: Test systems & power electronics
Location: Redmond, WA

Selected work

Turning complex hardware into clear, repeatable tests.

01 SpaceX · 2025—Present

Hardware test systems

Designing practical test infrastructure for battery-management devices and over-temperature protection circuits, including high-voltage test racks.

High voltage
BMS
Test racks
Safety interlocks
SCPI / Python

Challenge & Architecture

Ensuring battery packs and management devices shut down safely under worst-case fault and over-temperature conditions across automated test sweeps.

Test Automation

Constructed script-driven test sequences utilizing NI-VISA and SCPI to control programmable high-voltage DC loads, thermal sensors, and safety contactors.

Lab Instrumentation

High-voltage power supplies, electronic loads, multichannel data acquisition (DAQ) units, and automated isolation interlocks.

02 SpaceX · 2025—Present

GPS antenna RF debugging

Root-caused and resolved an elevated-reflection issue in an RF channel on a GPS antenna test rack.

RF
GPS
VNA / S-Parameters
Troubleshooting

S-Parameter Analysis

Identified high $S_{11}$ return-loss spikes in the L1/L2 band that degraded signal-to-noise ratio in test fixtures.

Root Cause & Resolution

Isolated the degradation to intermittent coaxial connector pin engagement and torque drift; re-terminated and recalibrated the RF path.

Key Instrumentation

Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), calibrated RF test cables, Smith chart impedance matching verification.

03 Independent Project

Linear bench power supply

Designed a 0–20 V, 500 mA linear supply with overcurrent and overtemperature protection—bringing analog analysis and lab practice together.

Analog design
Power
Protection
KiCad & LTspice

Circuit Topography

Transformer AC rectification, discrete series-pass regulation, and active foldback current limiting to protect sensitive prototype loads.

Thermal & Noise Design

Engineered heatsink thermal resistance to support worst-case short-circuit dissipation with output ripple under 2 mV RMS.

CAD & Prototyping

Simulated in LTspice, completed schematic and 2-layer PCB layout in KiCad, and assembled with through-hole and SMT soldering.

Experience

An engineer grounded in the build.

From makerspace prototyping to production-minded test systems, I enjoy the work that connects a schematic to a dependable result.

Feb 2025—Present

Hardware Test Engineer · SpaceX Starlink

Developing and troubleshooting hardware test systems for battery and power applications.

Summer 2024

Hardware Engineering Intern · Tektronix, Flex Hardware Team

Designed PLL synchronization circuitry, display-redriver validation hardware, and cost-reduction updates for DC/DC and oscilloscope channel-attenuator circuits.

Aug 2023—Dec 2023

Hardware Engineering Co-op · Keithley Instruments, Product Sustaining

Built DMM relay characterization circuits, automated validation with Python and Lua, and debugged precision analog measurement hardware.

Sep 2021—Feb 2025

Prototyping Technician · Sears think[box]

Supported makerspace electronics, designed training PCBs, and collaborated with a broad community of builders.

2020—2022

Intern · CCT Trading Group

Built MATLAB tooling for inventory analysis and supported operations across multiple locations.

About

Technical depth, practical instinct.

I earned my B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. I bring a hands-on perspective to instrumentation, data acquisition, analog circuits, PCB design, and the kind of debugging that happens at the bench.

Tools & disciplines

Hardware test & measurement
KiCad, LTspice & MATLAB
Python, Lua & test automation
SCPI, NI-VISA & instrumentation
Analog design & PCB layout
Oscilloscopes, DMMs & DAQ
SMT & through-hole soldering

Let's connect

Have a conversation worth building on.

yaw.boateng@case.edu (240) 278-1396 LinkedIn