Hardware Reliability Engineer (Starlink Product)

Full Time
Hawthorne, CA, USA
7 months ago

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.

HARDWARE RELIABILITY ENGINEER (STARLINK PRODUCT)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 2M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.

The Hardware Reliability organization is an inter-disciplinary team that is committed to the reliability of the Starlink consumer products. You will own the production process reliability to meet our high-volume targets, which also includes mechanical hardware failure investigations, pulling large machine datasets to find process commonalities, and investigating field failures due to factory escapes. You will use mechanical fundamentals, manufacturing, test, and reliability data to understand the factors that drive production process reliability in manufacturing.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Act as the primary point of contact for production non-conforming hardware, troubleshooting, root cause, failure investigations, and corrective actions
  • Work with cross functional engineering teams to drive design updates in response to manufacturing and field failures
  • Develop expertise in manufacturing processes and understand process capabilities through critical data analysis and in-depth understanding of the product
  • Analyze data from various production machines to identify manufacturing failure trends
  • Work closely with hardware, software, and network engineering teams to maximize reliability across all disciplines
  • Define the ongoing reliability testing strategy to monitor the manufacturing process health and screen for long-term reliability defects caused by process and component variability
  • Root-cause failures found in production or field failures and drive design or production iterations to meet reliability targets

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, or another STEM related field
  • 1+ years of experience in analysis, manufacturing, or hardware development (internship and project experience is applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
  • Dedicated to adopting a Lean approach to quality without compromising reliability
  • Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, 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 
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC) knowledge and experience applying statistical methods to track process capability
  • Programming experience in Python and SQL with an emphasis on data analysis and automation
  • Demonstrated capability to think creatively and solve complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
  • Experience in a fast-paced, iterative design environment within the consumer electronics, mobile handset, medical devices, aerospace, marine, or automotive industries

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:             

Pay range:          Build Reliability Engineer / Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year      Build Reliability Engineer / Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/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 & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays 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.