Hardware Reliability Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX • Hawthorne, CA

8h • $100,000 - $135,000

About The Position

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.

As a Hardware Reliability Engineer, you will investigate, analyze, and track the reliability of hardware within the Starshield satellite constellation. Your daily work will include working cross-functionally with design, production, and operations engineers to take actions in response to on-orbit data. You will use a mixture of failure investigation and data analysis skills to achieve root cause for on-orbit hardware anomalies. You will create comprehensive monitor systems to ensure the whole fleet stays healthy. You will provide data-driven insight at multiple points in the design and production process to proactively drive design and production reliability improvement. Your experience will span the full scale of Starshield’s satellite engineering process: from the detailed physics of failure in a single component, to the failure implications for the entire constellation, and the decisions made for future designs.

Requirements

• 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

Nice To Haves

• 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

Responsibilities

• Analyze and track on-orbit hardware failures for the Starshield satellite constellation
• Drive root cause investigation for major on-orbit hardware anomalies
• Work closely with engineers from adjacent disciplines (electrical, mechanical, thermal, software, test, operations, production) to eliminate sources of on-orbit failure
• Drive continual improvements to our constellation by building and using tools to analyze data collected both on-orbit and in ground testing
• Continuously improve the feedback loop from space using a mix of effective communication and automation

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level