Electrical Engineer, Silicon Reliability Test (Starlink)

SpaceX
Bastrop, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at mid-level electrical engineers with hands-on experience in semiconductor reliability testing, who can work in a collaborative, high-volume production environment in Bastrop, TX.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 1+ years of semiconductor reliability experience and a background in aerospace or high-reliability industries
    — “1+ years of experience in semiconductor reliability, packaging reliability, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, or similar high-reliability industry
  • Individuals who can design PCBs and develop custom test hardware for reliability testing
    — “Design and develop PCBs and electrical interfaces for reliability test fixtures, sockets, and monitoring systems
  • Engineers with a strong grasp of reliability standards and data analysis for predicting field performance
    — “Knowledge of JEDEC (JESD22), AEC-Q200/AEC-Q100, MIL-STD-202/883, IPC, or related reliability standards and physics-of-failure methods

Things to consider

  • This role requires U.S. citizenship or residency due to ITAR export regulations
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder)
  • Candidates must be prepared for overtime and weekend work as part of the role
    — “Ability to work overtime and weekends as needed

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with HTOL, TDDB, and other reliability testing methods in your resume and interviews
    — “Hands-on experience with HTOL or other accelerated life tests for packages or TDDB, EM, HCI, and other wafer-level tests
  • Showcase your ability to debug and characterize failures across silicon, packaging, and interconnects
    — “Perform hands-on debugging and electrical characterization to drive root cause and corrective action of silicon, package, and interconnect failures
  • Emphasize your experience with Python or similar languages for automation and data analysis
    — “Familiarity with programming and automation/scripting languages (Python preferred; C++, SQL, or similar)
  • Demonstrate your ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and communicate findings to leadership
    — “Run reliability failure investigations, coordinating efforts across silicon design, packaging, manufacturing, and reliability teams
  • Include examples of reliability data analysis using Weibull or acceleration models in your application materials
    — “Analyze reliability data (Weibull, acceleration models, etc.) to predict field performance
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Successfully qualified new silicon packages
  • Improved microelectronics reliability across Starlink devices
  • Developed and procured custom test hardware
  • Designed and developed PCBs for test fixtures
  • Developed software and automation scripts for reliability testing
Typical background
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or other engineering discipline1+ years of experience in semiconductor reliability, packaging reliability, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, or similar high-reliability industry

Skills & requirements

Required

Semiconductor Reliability TestingPackage-level TestingWafer-level TestingHTOL TestingLTOL TestingTDDB TestingEM TestingHCI TestingReliability QualificationReliability TestingReliability Data AnalysisWeibull AnalysisAcceleration ModelsRoot Cause AnalysisFailure InvestigationCustom Test Hardware DevelopmentPCB DesignAutomation ScriptingData AcquisitionReal-time Monitoring

Preferred

PythonEmbedded SystemsFirmware DevelopmentRF DesignHigh Voltage Systems

Stack & domain

PythonHTOLLTOLTDDBECMWeibullAcceleration ModelsOscilloscopesPower SuppliesVector Network AnalyzersCustom Firmware/scriptsThermal ChambersLeadershipCommunicationProblem-solvingTeamworkSemiconductorManufacturingReliability Testing

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

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.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, SILICON RELIABILITY TEST (STARLINK)

As an electrical engineer on the Starlink silicon reliability team, you'll sit at the intersection of electrical, packaging, semiconductor, and manufacturing engineering. You will be responsible for package-level and wafer-level reliability testing, including HTOL and other accelerated life tests, root cause of silicon and packaging failures, and driving design and process changes to improve microelectronics reliability across Starlink devices. Your focus will be on the qualification of new silicon packages, wafer-level reliability, and supporting high-volume production.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Own package-level (HTOL, LTOL, etc.) and wafer-level (TDDB, ECM, etc.) reliability qualification and testing of new silicon designs and manufacturing technologies for high-volume production

Plan, develop, execute, and analyze reliability test campaigns aligned with JEDEC and related standards

Develop and procure custom test hardware, fixturing, burn-in boards, and environmental chambers/systems required for package-level and wafer-level reliability testing

Design and develop PCBs and electrical interfaces for reliability test fixtures, sockets, and monitoring systems

Develop software, automation scripts, and data acquisition tools (e.g., Python) to control test equipment, log telemetry, perform real-time monitoring, and analyze large reliability datasets

Perform hands-on debugging and electrical characterization to drive root cause and corrective action of silicon, package, and interconnect failures observed in reliability testing, production, or the field

Utilize advanced diagnostic and test tools (oscilloscopes, power supplies, vector network analyzers, custom firmware/scripts, thermal chambers, etc.) to characterize devices under stress and isolate failure mechanisms

Run reliability failure investigations, coordinating efforts across silicon design, packaging, manufacturing, and reliability teams, and communicating findings to leadership

Analyze reliability data (Weibull, acceleration models, etc.) to predict field performance, document failure modes, and drive design/process improvements for higher yield and reliability

Partner with design, packaging, software, test, and manufacturing engineering teams to deliver reliable silicon hardware by informing product design, package selection, process changes, and test coverage

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or other engineering discipline

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

1+ years of experience in semiconductor reliability, packaging reliability, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, or similar high-reliability industry

Masters degree or PhD in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related field with a focus on semiconductors, characterization, or test

Hands-on experience with HTOL or other accelerated life tests for packages or TDDB, EM, HCI, and other wafer-level tests

Experience developing or procuring custom test hardware, burn-in boards, sockets, or fixturing for reliability testing

Experience designing PCBs for test fixtures or high-reliability applications

Familiarity with programming and automation/scripting languages (Python preferred; C++, SQL, or similar) for test control, data logging, and analysis

Proficiency in understanding PCB schematics, layout tools, and electrical interfaces for semiconductor packages

Knowledge of JEDEC (JESD22), AEC-Q200/AEC-Q100, MIL-STD-202/883, IPC, or related reliability standards and physics-of-failure methods

Experience in a fast-paced, iterative design/manufacturing environment within semiconductor, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, or related industries

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to work overtime and weekends as needed

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. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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