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Production Reliability Engineer (Starship Electronics)

SpaceX · Hawthorne, CA

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Level
Engineer
Team
Reliability
Base pay
$105k–$123k
Degree
Required
Experience asked
1+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level reliability role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Hawthorne, CA. In this role you will drive reliability of all electrical systems, from communications to power, navigation, and crewed life support.

They ask for
1+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Root cause, FMEA, Automation
Base pay
$105k–$123k
Day to day
some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

How this role compares

Against 89 other live reliability postings in California.

Base pay
About 16% below similar roles

Typical $111k–$160k, from 50 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (1+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Root cause 79%
  • ✓ FMEA 50%
  • New product launch 49%
  • ✓ Automation 39%
  • DOE 29%
  • SPC 24%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 1+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone on the team first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverage

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at SpaceX

    We found 3 people at this company and state: 2 on the team, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

    Write to Kevin → (free)
  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: SpaceX in Hawthorne

47 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found on the reliability team.

All 48 roles at SpaceX →
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

  • ◆Perform detailed failure analysis of Starship electronics hardware, identifying root causes of failures and implementing corrective actions
  • ◆Utilize design schematics, test equipment, and inspection processes to identify the physics of failure on PCBAs, electro-mechanical assemblies, and related components
  • ◆Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to improve product reliability, electrical design robustness, and manufacturing processes
  • ◆Work closely with test engineers to maintain a close feedback loop, improving test assets, reducing false failures, and increasing test coverage to avoid escapes
  • ◆Monitor yield rates and quality metrics, driving corrective actions to address non-conforming products and process variability
  • ◆Conduct benchtop and environmental testing to validate product robustness and reliability margins
  • ◆Support production and field operations by providing technical guidance on failure resolution, root cause analysis, and reliability improvements
  • ◆Maintain thorough documentation of failure analysis findings, test results, and corrective actions
  • ◆Apply reliability mindset to electrical design reviews, including derating, DFX, and risk reduction

Qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline
  • ✓1+ years of experience in hardware development, failure analysis, or reliability engineering (internship and co-op experience qualifies)
  • ✓1+ years of experience working with electronic hardware

Preferred skills and experience

  • ✓3+ years of industry experience working with electronic hardware
  • ✓Experience with digital and mixed-signal designs, power electronics, or RF electronics using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, and soldering equipment
  • ✓Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and root causing electrical hardware failures
  • ✓Experience with environmental testing such as HALT/HASS, thermal, vibration, and TVAC
  • ✓Proficiency in programming languages (such as Python, C, or C++) for test automation and data analysis
  • ✓Knowledge of quality tools such as root cause analysis, corrective action, PFMEA, and statistical methods
  • ✓Experience developing or supporting any of the following: analog/digital/mixed-signal circuit testing, RF hardware testing, design for excellence (DFX), derating analyses, or digital communications interfaces (SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet, RS422)
  • ✓Experience with PCB fabrication, PCBA assembly processes, and electro-mechanical assembly DFM

requirements

  • ✓Experience reducing failure rates or improving reliability/yield through root cause analysis and corrective actions

Requirements

  • ✓Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project milestones
  • ✓Occasional travel may be required to Starbase, Texas and/or off-site vendor locations

requirements

of the law.

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 .

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 .

Show full description ↓

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.

Production reliability engineer (starship electronics)

The Starship Electronics team has taken the challenge to develop hardware for the Starship spacecraft and SuperHeavy booster. In this role you will drive reliability of all electrical systems, from communications to power, navigation, and crewed life support. This will be one of the most sophisticated and largest vehicles flown in space, where low cost and high production rates are required to enable the mission.

Pay Range

Level 1: $105,000.00 - $122,500.00

Level 2: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00

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

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