Reliability Engineer, Satellite Systems (Starshield)

SpaceX
Hawthorne, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to mid-level engineers with strong data analysis and cross-functional collaboration skills working in satellite systems and national security domains.

Best fit for

  • Mid-level engineers with experience in failure investigation and satellite systems
    — “Drive root cause investigation for major on-orbit hardware anomalies
  • Candidates with a background in reliability statistics and time series data analysis
    — “Strong understanding of time series data analysis and reliability statistics
  • Individuals who have worked in cross-functional teams across hardware and software domains
    — “Work closely with engineers from adjacent disciplines (electrical, mechanical, thermal, software, test, operations, production)
  • Candidates with a strong grasp of failure mechanisms in electronic, mechanical, or optical systems
    — “Strong understanding of failure mechanisms for electronic, mechanical, or optical systems

Things to consider

  • This role requires an active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain it
    — “Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one
  • Candidates must be eligible for U.S. Government export authorizations
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident
  • The position may require long hours and weekend work for mission-critical deadlines
    — “Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to meet mission-critical deadlines

How to stand out

  • Demonstrate experience in building monitor systems for satellite fleets
    — “create comprehensive monitor systems to ensure the whole fleet stay healthy
  • Highlight your ability to provide data-driven insights during design and production
    — “provide data-driven insight at multiple points in the design and production process
  • Showcase your background in environmental testing like HALT/HASS campaigns
    — “Experience performing environmental tests such as HALT/HASS campaigns
  • Emphasize your history of leading failure investigations and root cause analysis
    — “Experience leading failure investigations and root cause analysis
  • Demonstrate fluency in Python and SQL, as these are required for data analysis
    — “1+ years of experience with Python or SQL
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Mid

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

What success looks like

  • driving root cause investigation for major anomalies
  • building comprehensive monitor systems
Typical background
2+ years of professional experience in hardware development or data analysis

Skills & requirements

Required

Failure InvestigationData AnalysisCross-functional CollaborationReliability ImprovementRoot Cause AnalysisEnvironmental Testing

Preferred

Active Ts/sci Clearance

Stack & domain

PythonSQLFailure InvestigationData AnalysisTeamworkProblem-solvingSatellite SystemsReliability Engineering

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.

RELIABILITY ENGINEER, SATELLITE SYSTEMS (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.

As a Reliability Engineer for satellite systems, you will investigate, analyze, and track the reliability of hardware within the Starshield satellite constellation. Your daily work will include working cross-team with design, production, and operations engineers to take actions in response 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 stay 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 its implications for the entire constellation, to the decisions made for future designs.

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

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or another STEM discipline

2+ years of professional 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 (Python, C/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 TS/SCI 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: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00

Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

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. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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