RF Hardware Reliability Engineer; Starshield

RF Hardware Reliability Engineer (Starshield)

Space

X 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 Space

X is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

About the role: As a hardware reliability engineer on the Starshield team, you will demonstrate extreme ownership through detailed and thorough hardware bring‑up, characterization, and qualification testing. You will directly drive improvements to the product, make changes to our processes and controls, and ensure that the hardware is reliable through all aspects of its life cycle from production to orbit.

• Support on‑call shifts and be ready to respond to satellite and gateway alerts, review telemetry, and submit commands to help recover operations.
• Drive multidisciplinary failure investigations, build and track fault trees, and help run tests/experiments on the ground to narrow down probable causes.
• Drive corrective action of design, production, test, and operational issues to ultimately improve satellite reliability.
• Perform hands‑on troubleshooting in the lab as part of key efforts to help identify root‑cause.
  • This includes troubleshooting complex RF systems, various compute and network avionics and power electronics.
• Create data analysis programs to identify satellite anomalous behavior as well as production yield issues to help better understand reliability performance.
• Conduct regular reliability reviews to ensure that design intent is achieved and well‑communicated; identify opportunities for risk reduction, and removal of complexity in designs and processes to improve on‑orbit life.

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or physics.
• 1+ years of experience in a design or manufacturing engineering role (student project team or internship experience qualifies).

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team's spirit of innovation and mission of improving reliability in cutting‑edge technology.
• Demonstrated capability to think creatively and solve complex problems.
• Experience in mechatronics or other cross‑disciplinary combination of mechanical, electrical, and software skill sets.
• Experience working with RF test equipment as well as debugging and testing RF systems.
• Proficiency with programming and automation/scripting languages (Python, C, C++, SQL).
• Knowledge of quality tools such as design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), and various problem‑solving approaches.
• Experience in a fast‑paced, iterative design environment within the consumer electronics, mobile handset, medical devices, marine, aerospace, or automotive industries.
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, OR ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance is desired but not required.

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive Space
  
  X missions; if so, you will be subject to pre‑employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing.

Pay range:
Level I: $ – $ per year. Level II: $ – $ 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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $15,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package  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…