SpaceX Verified

Aerospace, Space Exploration, Telecommunications, Manufacturing

Hardware Reliability Engineer, Components (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CAInternshipEntry-level (exp-based)$105,000–$140,000 /yrPosted 2 months ago

Is this role right for you?

Upload your resume and get a skill-by-skill breakdown — see exactly where you match, where you're close, and what to highlight. Not a mystery percentage.

Get a tailored resume highlighting what this role needs.

Required skills

Starshield
SpaceX
Starlink
EEE components
EEE systems
reliability
failure analysis
root cause analysis
Python
SQL

Nice to have

cross-functional
C++
time series data analysis
reliability statistics
failure mechanisms
environmental testing

Role summary

SpaceX is seeking a Hardware Reliability Engineer for its Starshield program, focusing on national security applications. This role involves ensuring the reliability of electrical, electronic, and electro-mechanical/optical (EEE) components used in government systems. The engineer will support design and manufacturing teams by evaluating component quality, performing failure analysis, developing reliability models, and leading testing campaigns. Key responsibilities include driving EEE parts reliability issues to closure, advising on parts selection, and analyzing design choices for improved reliability. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline, 2+ years of hardware development/data analysis experience, and 1+ years of Python or SQL experience.

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, COMPONENTS (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.

A Hardware Reliability Engineer plays a critical role in supporting the design engineering community to produce higher reliability Electrical, Electronic, and Electro-mechanical/Electro-optical (EEE) components and systems, ensuring SpaceX can continue to use commercial electronics from a wide range of manufacturers. This engineer will evaluate the quality and reliability of components for the design community, bringing together the appropriate groups to take corrective action with unforeseen component issues and failures. They will impact all stages of design and production, interfacing with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, as well as supply chain and production staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide support for team leadership and technical guidance for 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 and 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 groups such as supply chain, design engineering, 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 attachment, solder chemistry, reflow profile, and 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

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or another STEM discipline

2+ years of experience in hardware development, hardware troubleshooting, or data analysis (internship, co-op, and extracurricular experiences are applicable)

1+ years of experience with Python or SQL

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, or data science

Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role

Strong understanding of computers and programming languages (ideally Python, C, or C++)

Strong understanding of time series data analysis and reliability statistics

Strong understanding of failure mechanisms for electronic, mechanical, or optical systems

Experience leading failure investigations and root cause analysis

Experience performing environmental tests such as HALT/HASS campaigns, thermal cycling, vibration and shock testing, space environment effects testing

Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to meet mission-critical deadlines

An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:Pay Range:Level 1: $105,000.00 - $140,000.00Level 2: $120,000.00 - $170,000.00

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 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. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

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 reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

Sample SpaceX interview questions

1
Build a distributed platform for storing and serving digital assets.
system designmedium
2
Design a system for real-time processing of IoT device data.
system designmedium
3
Design a distributed message queue like Kafka.
system designmedium
4
Develop a web app that shortens URLs like TinyURL.
system designmedium
5
Propose a high-level design for a tracing system that can handle millions of spans per second across thousands of services.
system designmedium

Get started to unlock a personalized interview prep pack for this role.

Ready to apply?

You'll be redirected to SpaceX's application page.