Build Reliability Engineer (Falcon/Starship Valves & Components) Verified today

Build Reliability Engineer (Falcon/Starship Valves and Components)

The Build Reliability organization at SpaceX is an inclusive, inter-disciplinary team committed to the reliability of flight components and production assemblies. As a Build Reliability Engineer, you will have immense breadth of hardware ownership as you collaborate with core groups at SpaceX, guiding hardware from design to production and operation.

You will employ reliability by any means necessary, stretching your expertise in fabrication methods, work instructions, tooling design, inspection procedures, and data gathering. You will build new processes from the ground up and routinely improve execution of existing processes, driving continuous production improvement. You will be responsible for build-induced vehicle risk.

You will spend time in the office, on the factory floor, and in the lab. Driving decisions through data is critical. For new hardware, you may need to define what data to collect to inform future decisions. When issues arise, you will deep dive problems to understand root cause and implement robust corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Develop manufacturing, integration, assembly, welding, NDE, cleanliness, and checkouts processes from the ground up, then enforce consistency across different work centers
• Identify reliability gaps in the manufacturing and design process, ideate solutions, and implement improvements without slowing build rate
• Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams to create quality plans for flight hardware, including identification of key characteristics, prototype testing, first article and detailed inspection planning, and lessons learned
• Monitor product and process success through production ramp-up using quality and analysis tools
• Conduct regular build quality reviews to ensure design intent is achieved and identify opportunities for risk reduction and process simplification
• Investigate failures in production, test, and flight to identify and mitigate root causes
• Design and implement tooling for work access, mechanical and avionics testing, build fixturing, lifting and rigging, and fluids
• Define and document inspection requirements and procedures
• Contain non-conforming product and provide guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, and engineers on quarantine and rework activities across multiple sites

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, or another STEM related field
• 1+ years in a manufacturing, quality, or design engineering role (student project team or internship experience qualifies)

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with build, assembly, or integration of structures, avionics, valves, fluid system components, actuators, thermal protection systems, or other aerospace components
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with enthusiasm for innovation and reliability improvement
• Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or electrical engineering
• Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environments
• Knowledge of welding requirements and experience implementing process improvements and controls for automated and manual welding processes
• Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, APQP, metrology, PFMEA, control plans, and problem solving approaches
• Experience developing or supporting complex mechanical/structural assemblies, fluid component/valve assembly, CNC machining, forming, bending, fluid system pressure testing, or welding (EB/TIG)

Additional Requirements

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

Compensation

Build Reliability Engineer Level I: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00 per year

Build Reliability Engineer Level II: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may 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 receive 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 will accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.

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 (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 required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.