Sr. Hardware Reliability Engineer (Avionics)

$125,000 - $175,000/Yr

SpaceX - Hawthorne, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Onsite - Hawthorne, CA

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Sr. Hardware Reliability Engineer (Avionics) at SpaceX is a key role within the Build Reliability team, focusing on ensuring the reliability of avionics hardware throughout its lifecycle. This position involves collaboration with various engineering teams to enhance product reliability, utilizing data-driven approaches to identify and mitigate risks, and supporting the transition from design to production. The engineer will engage in hands-on work across different environments, including the office, factory floor, and lab, to contribute to SpaceX's mission of making humanity interplanetary.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with electrical design engineering and avionics manufacturing teams to improve product reliability through best practices and process control.
• Support new product development by prototyping early development hardware to identify design limitations.
• Identify opportunities for risk reduction and simplification in designs and processes to enhance manufacturability.
• Conduct PCBA test failure investigations using schematics and test equipment, performing root cause analysis to prevent future failures.
• Lead initiatives to reduce risk and complexity in designs and processes, working with integrated product teams to address non-conformances.
• Monitor product yield rates and implement corrective actions for products not meeting specifications.
• Guide quality inspectors and technicians in managing non-conforming products and rework activities.
• Promote continuous improvement on the shop floor and advance Lean production systems through standardization and optimization of processes.
• Serve as a technical expert in avionics processes, challenging requirements to eliminate non-value added overhead.
• Determine the minimum viable acceptance testing sequence for flight hardware to ensure high reliability at the system level.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
• 5+ years in a PCBA manufacturing and/or avionics design role with hands-on hardware support/test/root cause experience.
• 3+ years of experience with electrical test equipment (e.g., multimeters, signal generators, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers).

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in electrical engineering.
• 8+ years of industry experience with electronic hardware.
• Experience with electrical schematic and PCB design software (e.g., Altium, Orcad).
• Familiarity with common circuit blocks including filters, power supplies, and microcontrollers.
• Experience with circuit simulation software (e.g., SPICE, LTSPICE).
• Ability to troubleshoot PCBA level failures and provide corrective action.
• Experience with PCBA fabrication processes.
• Knowledge of RF test equipment and concepts.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with stock purchase options.
• 3 weeks of paid vacation.
• 10 or more paid holidays per year.
• 5 days of sick leave per year.