Production Reliability Engineer (Starship Electronics) Verified today

About the role

The Starship Electronics team develops hardware for the Starship spacecraft and SuperHeavy booster. You will drive reliability of all electrical systems, from communications to power, navigation, and crewed life support. This is one of the most sophisticated and largest vehicles flown in space, where low cost and high production rates are essential.

What you will do

• 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 feedback loops, 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 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

Basic 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 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

Additional 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

Compensation

Level 1: $105,000 - $122,500 per year
Level 2: $120,000 - $150,000 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. You may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, 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 which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of applicable law.

ITAR requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.