Design Reliability Engineer (Crew Starship)
SpaceX · Hawthorne, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Reliability
- Base pay
- $100k–$130k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 50+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 24 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level reliability role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Hawthorne, CA. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.
- They ask for
- 50+ years · degree required
- Base pay
- $100k–$130k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
- Openings
- 2 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 87 other live reliability postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 14% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (50+ vs 5+)
Typical $111k–$158k, from 49 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 80%
- ✓ New product launch 50%
- FMEA 50%
- Automation 40%
- DOE 30%
- SPC 25%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
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
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
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
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
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
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.
- Lead Hardware Reliability Engineer (Starshield) · Reliability · Manager
- Lead Operations Engineer · Production · Manager
- Environmental & Thermal Control Engineer (Dragon) · Controls
- Manufacturing Engineer (Raptor Final Assembly & Tube Shop) · Manufacturing
- Space Operations Engineer (Ground Operator Training) · Production
- Lead Supplier Development Engineer, PCB/PCBA (Starshield) · Quality · Manager
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Develop design criteria, requirements, and verification approaches for new systems.
- ◆Ensure that the SpaceX design process & design criteria/requirements are being followed for flight, launch, and/or recovery systems, including:
- ◆Provide critical peer review and approval of hardware designs during design reviews, and of acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
- ◆Drive improvements to vehicle design through close integration with hardware teams.
- ◆Perform verification reviews hardware and systems.
- ◆Ensure that the customer design criteria/requirements are addressed for flight systems, including:
- ◆Lead spacecraft certification efforts through direct interaction with U.S. Government customers.
- ◆Tailor and negotiating
requirements
and verifications to meet program goals.
- ✓Review vehicle changes to ensure qualification compliance.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
- ✓1+ years professional experience in fabrication, assembly, and/or testing.
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Master's degree in an engineering discipline.
- ✓Experience with aircraft, launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems.
- ✓Experience with aircraft, launch vehicle, or spacecraft
requirements
and standards.
- ✓Experience with standards and requirement negotiation.
- ✓Excellent customer interface skills.
- ✓Experience with at least one commercial FEA package (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, or ANSYS).
- ✓Hands on experience with various industry standard manufacturing tools, techniques and processes, including mills, lathes, electronics assembly, composite layup, etc.
- ✓Scripting and data analysis experience using Visual Basic, Matlab, Python and Excel.
Requirements
- ✓Must be available to work long hours and weekends as necessary.
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 ↓Show less ↑
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.
Design reliability engineer (crew starship)
After 50 years, humankind will once again return to surface of the moon using SpaceX’s new vehicle, the Human Landing System (HLS) – this time for good. Leveraging the lessons learned from our flight proven Dragon spacecraft, Falcon and now Starship, HLS will usher in the next era of manned spaceflight and exploration, ultimately allowing us to establish permanent communities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The HLS Design Reliability team is responsible for ensuring that flight hardware and concepts-of-operations lead to successful completion of missions while meeting or exceeding both internal and external design requirements. We perform a unique engineering role, evaluating and guiding engineering designs from concept to flight. We facilitate cross-disciplinary action and problem-solving across all SpaceX programs and staff.
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