Lead Hardware Reliability Engineer, Electrical

About the role

In this position, you will spearhead the electrical hardware reliability team dedicated to the Starshield program. Your primary responsibility will be to lead initiatives aimed at identifying, analyzing, and rectifying hardware failures, thereby enhancing the durability and performance of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). This role is critical in ensuring that our hardware meets the highest standards of reliability, contributing to the success of SpaceX's ambitious projects.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Assemble and guide a team of electrical hardware reliability engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Mentor team members through technical challenges, particularly in conducting root cause analyses of electrical hardware issues.
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to achieve program-specific reliability and performance targets.
• Create and implement career development plans for team members to enhance their technical capabilities and professional growth.
• Analyze yield and defect data to initiate corrective actions for products that do not meet design specifications.
• Identify and escalate significant hardware issues, ensuring that necessary resources are allocated for prompt resolution.
• Maintain thorough documentation of failure analysis outcomes, testing data, and the corrective measures taken.
• Incorporate insights gained from on-orbit reliability assessments into production processes to drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience in hardware development, failure analysis, or reliability engineering, which may include internships and cooperative education experiences.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience in a leadership role, whether in project management, team leadership, or people management.

Nice to have

• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, enabling effective interaction across various organizational levels.
• Experience in implementing sustainable solutions within manufacturing settings.
• Familiarity with digital, mixed-signal, power, or RF electronics, and hands-on experience with tools such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, multimeters, power supplies, and soldering equipment.
• Proven skills in troubleshooting and diagnosing root causes of electrical hardware failures.
• Knowledge of PCBA fabrication processes, including soldering, flux application, underfill, staking, reflow, and temperature management.
• Experience with environmental testing methodologies, including HALT, HASS, thermal, vibration, and thermal vacuum testing (TVAC).
• Understanding of RF testing equipment, such as vector network analyzers and spectrum analyzers, along with concepts like S-parameters, impedance matching, and antenna design.
• An active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q security clearance, or the capability to obtain one.

Skills & tools

• Expertise in electrical hardware failure analysis
• Knowledge of PCBA fabrication techniques
• Proficiency in environmental testing (HALT/HASS/TVAC)
• Familiarity with RF testing equipment and design principles
• Competence in digital and mixed-signal circuit analysis

Practical notes

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees to comply with ITAR regulations.
• The position may require availability for weekend work and extended hours as necessary.
• Individuals holding an active security clearance will have the opportunity to work on sensitive missions and will be subject to drug and alcohol testing protocols.
• Compensation includes a base salary, potential long-term incentives (such as stock options or cash bonuses), discretionary bonuses, and participation in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits offered encompass medical, vision, and dental insurance, a 401(k) plan, disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, three weeks of vacation, and over ten paid holidays annually.

This role is an for a dedicated professional looking to make a significant impact in the aerospace industry while working with a team committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation. Join us at SpaceX and be part of a mission that is changing the world.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.