SpaceX may be preparing to take Starlink’s sales strategy in a new direction—into brick-and-mortar retail. A new job posting for a Starlink Store Manager in Bakersfield, California, suggests that the satellite internet provider is about to open its first dedicated store.
Until now, Starlink has relied on online orders and retail partnerships with major outlets like Walmart, Costco, Home Depot and Best Buy, to get its dishes and accessories into customers’ hands. But the new posting suggests SpaceX wants to create a fully branded, in-person Starlink shopping experience where potential subscribers can learn about plans, get hands-on product demonstrations, and receive technical support.
According to the listing, the Bakersfield manager will oversee a team of three to five employees and be tasked with maximizing store traffic and adoption rates. The responsibilities include both sales and technical expertise, with knowledge of Starlink hardware and troubleshooting listed as important requirements.
The role comes with a competitive compensation package, ranging from $95,000 to $115,000 annually plus bonuses.
Bakersfield, a city of more than 417,000 residents, sits about 120 miles north of SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
The timing of this retail experiment aligns with SpaceX’s broader push to expand Starlink’s capabilities beyond fixed broadband. Through partnerships with mobile carriers around the world, including Roger’s in Canada, Starlink is already working on providing direct-to-cell satellite coverage, allowing supported smartphones to connect in dead zones without traditional towers.
However, the company will soon be launching that service without carrier partners. In September, SpaceX acquired $17 billion worth of valuable radio spectrum from EchoStar. A network of physical Starlink stores would provide the perfect venue for selling not just satellite dishes, but also future Starlink-enabled mobile plans and devices.
