Reliability Engineer, Satellite Systems (Starshield)

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

Pay Range: Level 1: $100,000.00 -