Build Reliability Engineer (Raptor Avionics)

BUILD RELIABILITY ENGINEER (RAPTOR AVIONICS)

Raptor is a full-flow, staged combustion engine powering Starship – the most powerful launch vehicle in the world that's designed for heavy payload transport, multi-planetary travel, and complete reusability. The Raptor program is actively developing the design and factory to achieve maximum performance and high-rate production to support planned missions to the Moon and Mars.

As the Build Reliability Engineer responsible for Raptor avionics, your breadth of exposure and responsibility will be immense as you collaborate with other core groups at SpaceX. You will be the primary reliability point of contact for avionics hardware. You will join an inclusive, inter-disciplinary Build Reliability organization committed to reliability in manufacturing, test, and flight. You use data to understand the factors that drive reliability and inform projects that you execute to drive improvements in manufacturing, test, and flight. You dive deep into the details and coordinate with key stakeholders to identify, understand and solve difficult technical problems with corrective actions. You utilize a system level approach to prioritize issues based on consequence and risk for Raptor and the Starship vehicle. You thrive in a hands-on environment and will spend time in the office, on the factory floor, and in the lab to execute on the mission to make humanity interplanetary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible partner with cross-functional teams including design, manufacturing, electrical and electronics engineering (EEE), and supply chain to collaborate on avionics product development and production, and improve product reliability by applying best practices to designs and establishing repeatable process control
• Investigate hardware failures in production, test and flight, performing detailed root cause/failure analysis for electrical and mechanical assembly products. Provide hands-on, technical support and drive failure resolution and systemic process improvements.
• Identify opportunities for risk reduction and removal of complexity in designs and production to improve manufacturability, driving improvements and addressing high-impact and repeating non-conformances
• Monitor production yield rates and analyze quality metrics through regular build quality reviews, and drive corrective action to products not meeting design specifications
• Contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers to assist in quarantining and rework activities. Identify root causes and implement corrective actions
• Support the shop floor in continuous improvement and the advancing of a Lean, autonomous production system through creation of standard rework/repair guides, removal of redundant or unnecessary inspection, and improved control and optimization of critical processes

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree an engineering discipline or physics
• 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing, quality and/or design engineering role (internship, co-op, and student project team experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team’s spirit of innovation and mission of improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent engineering discipline
• 2+ years of industry experience working with electronic hardware
• Demonstrated process improvement experience in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and root causing electrical and mechanical hardware failures
• Data analysis experience in SQL or Python
• Knowledge of quality and production tools such as root cause analysis and corrective action (RCCA), Lean principles, Six Sigma, statistical process control (SPC), advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience developing or supporting any of the following products/processes:

• Avionics design, testing, integration, operation, debugging
• Batteries
• Solar power
• PCBA
• Sensors
• Analog, digital, and mixed signal circuit testing
• RF hardware testing
• Environmental testing
• Design for excellence (DFX), derating, and related analyses for electronics
• Welding (laser, electron beam (EB), TIG)
• Complex mechanical/structural assemblies

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

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

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Build Reliability Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Build Reliability Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/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 and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will 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 the law.