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. RELIABILITY ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. SpaceX’s satellite programs are pushing the boundaries of in-space capabilities. Our missions support scientific research, classified national security space and commercial opportunities. Software engineering and innovation is at the core of these programs.

The Sr. Reliability Engineer plays a critical role in supporting the design engineer community towards higher reliability EEE components and systems. This person ensures SpaceX can continue to use commercial electronics from a wide range of manufacturers. The Sr. Reliability Engineer is a key member that is involved with evaluating the quality and reliability of components for the design community. This engineer will also address unforeseen component issues/failures and bring appropriate groups together to drive work towards closure. This work impacts all stages of design and production and must interface with supply chain, design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and production.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Provide support for team leadership and technical guidance within and without the Hardware and EEE Parts Reliability group
  • Drive Avionics EEE piece part reliability issues and risk towards closure
  • Use reliability physics of failure models and reliability statistics to assess risk levels to the mission as well as to develop and implement accelerated tests to mitigate risks and qualify designs
  • Lead reliability test planning, methodology and execution
  • Drive analysis processes for all failures discovered during reliability testing
  • Build reliability prediction models/Finite Element Models to evaluate product functional performance over mission life conditions
  • Advise EEE designers on parts selection based on part reliability and manufacturing processes
  • Interface with SpaceX departments such as supply chain, design engineers, and production/manufacturing
  • Evaluate failure analysis and coordinate destructive physical analysis investigations to provide corrective actions and paths to closure
  • Analyze and model implementation options to inform electronics design for reliability, including Material selections; PCB laminates, features (vias, pad, stack up, etc.) specifications, finishes, Component attach; Solder chemistry, reflow profile Underfill selections
  • Advise on HALT/HASS testing and reliability assessments for PCBA testing
  • Execute testing campaigns to assess reliability of hardware and components

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • MS in Reliability Engineering or related field
  • 10+ years of experience in semiconductor, package, and/or PCBA reliability
  • 5+ years of work experience reliability modelling methods to predict product life, and statistical techniques to analyze test data.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on environment
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Excellent understanding of accelerated testing methods, governing equations, and physics of failure for different failure mechanisms
  • Experience facilitating FMEAs and leading cross functional teams in reliability analysis, prediction and correlation
  • Working knowledge of coding language, preferable Python
  • Adept in developing and analyzing reliability statistics, including Weibull Analysis
  • Accomplished with PCB Design Analysis capability (Sherlock or alternative)
  • Experience with probabilistic modeling techniques
  • Familiarity with Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Reliability Block Diagram analysis (RBD)
  • Robust Determination of MTTF
  • Single Event Upset / Multiple Bit Upset (SEU/MBU) analysis
  • Monte Carlo simulations for material, process, manufacturing, environment, usage variations
  • Experienced with life testing methods (HALT/HASS, ESS, ALT, RGT)
  • Areas of specialty interest for “Design for Reliability” as follows: Avionics electronics, Interconnects, RF systems, Mechanisms, Space Tribology, Power Systems (Batteries, Solar Arrays), Thermal Management

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION: 

Pay range:       

Reliability Engineer/Senior: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/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.

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, stock options, 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. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year. 

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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.

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