Build Reliability Engineer (Starlink Manufacturing)

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.

BUILD RELIABILITY ENGINEER (STARLINK MANUFACTURING) 

Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious goal to bring high quality internet to the globe by building a constellation of thousands of satellites in low earth orbit (LEO). As a Build Reliability Engineer on the Starlink team, you will be responsible for ensuring reliability and quality of the product through design, manufacturing, test, and on-orbit operation. You use data to understand the factors that drive reliability and support quality initiatives with design and development teams to drive improvements in manufacturing, test, and flight reliability. You have the ability to dive deep into the details to identify, understand, and solve difficult technical problems. You thrive in a hands-on environment, and will spend time in the office, on the factory floor, and in the lab to connect the unconnected.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and introduce controls and automation into manufacturing processes
• Collaborate with production to reliably reduce in-process inspections and/or maintain inspection plans
• Drive identification, mitigation, root-cause analysis, and reliability improvement of failure investigations in production, test, and flight
• Determine the appropriate Quality Management System requirements around traceability, non-conformance, and configuration management for the program and work with software teams to build and test the applications to enforce said requirements
• Develop, implement and validate Lean test and inspection processes for new and existing products and process while ensuring that criteria are objective and that quality goals are consistently met
• Conduct regular build quality reviews to ensure that design intent is achieved and well-communicated; identify opportunities for risk reduction, and removal of complexity in designs and processes to improve manufacturability, collaborating with integrated product teams to drive improvements, and address high-impact and repeating non-conformances
• Create data analysis programs to exercise data collection over various production processes, with minimal impact to production
• Identify and execute projects to reduce cycle time, and improve reliability, working closely with all engineering disciplines
• Define ongoing reliability testing strategy to monitor the manufacturing process health, and screen for long-term reliability defects caused by process and component variability
• Contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to technicians, shop supervisors and engineers to assist in quarantining and rework activities
• Confirm operational safety precautions are considered and identified per area planning standards

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, software, industrial, electrical, or other engineering discipline
• 2+ years in a manufacturing, quality and/or design engineering role (student project team or internship experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or electrical engineering
• Experience supporting production of complex mechanical/structural assemblies
• Proficiency with programming and automation/scripting languages (Python, C, C++, SQL)
• Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
• Proven success with instituting statistical process control and conducting design of experiments
• Demonstrated capability to think creatively and solve complex problems
• Experience supporting production of complex mechanical/structural assemblies
• Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem solving approaches
• Dedicated to adopting a Lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability
• Experience in a fast-paced, iterative design environment within the consumer electronics, mobile handset, medical devices, marine, aerospace, or automotive industries

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:             

Pay range:       

Build Reliability Engineer (Starlink Manufacturing)/ Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year     

Build Reliability Engineer (Starlink Manufacturing)/ Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year     

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, stock options, 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 & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Non-exempt Washington employees are eligible for sick leave in accordance with Washington's Sick Leave policies. 

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or 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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.