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Sr. PCB Reliability Engineer (Starship)

Hawthorne, CA
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

The Starship team supports the mission to revolutionize orbital flight and space travel- opening access for humankind to establish new frontiers in space and ultimately become a multi-planetary species. Our team builds some of the most advanced electronics ever flown in space- at a cost and rate previously considered unthinkable in the space industry. Become a part of this fast moving and world class hardware development team, work with super smart and motivated engineers, and achieve truly audacious goals. If you're ready for a challenge and would like to help make our civilization multi-planetary then you've come to the right place!

This role will be part of the team that is responsible for the design and reliability of Starship electronics. The PCB Reliability Engineer will work closely with PCB librarians, PCB designers, responsible engineers, manufacturing and supply chain teams, as well as PCB vendors, in support of our mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Become a member of the PCB reliability team on the Starship program, leading the effort to create high-quality PCBs for deep space travel to the Moon and Mars
  • Fully own the design and development of PCB stack-ups for all Starship PCBs
  • Drive introduction of new materials, working closely with design engineers and our supply chain team
  • Create test plans and drive PCB reliability campaigns for volume production of PCBs
  • Manage DFM as part of design releases, process documentation, and communication between engineering teams and PCB vendors
  • Identify trends and opportunities for optimizing product output, quality enhancements, reliability, and cost
  • Provide feedback to engineering design teams to improve design for manufacturability and reliability
  • Identify, root-cause, and come up with corrective actions for reliability failures

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or equivalent engineering
  • 5+ years of professional experience in PCB design, reliability, or fabrication

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Experience working with PCB materials and PCB fabrication processes from industry
  • Knowledge of IPC manufacturing standards
  • Experience running failure analysis investigations and using tools like X-Ray, cross-section, and polishing
  • Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods such as experiment design, process capability analysis
  • Proficiency with board layout in any ECAD software
  • Demonstrated cross functional project management skills and ability to collaborate with other engineering disciplines
  • Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Sr. Reliability Engineer: $135,000.00 - $195,000.00/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.

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 (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

About SpaceX

SpaceX

SpaceX is one of the most influential aerospace companies in the world, transforming space launch, satellite communications, and deep-space transportation. Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX designs and manufactures advanced rockets and spacecraft, including Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship, alongside the Dragon spacecraft and the Starlink satellite internet constellation. The company plays a major role in U.S. space access, national security launch capabilities, and commercial space infrastructure.

For job seekers, SpaceX offers opportunities across some of the most demanding engineering disciplines in the industry, including aerospace engineering, propulsion, software development, avionics, manufacturing, robotics, materials science, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, technicians, and builders who want to work in a high-intensity environment focused on rapid iteration, vertical integration, and hands-on hardware development at scale.

Unlike traditional aerospace contractors that rely heavily on long development cycles, SpaceX operates with a fast-paced, vertically integrated engineering culture where teams design, build, test, and fly systems in rapid succession. Employees often work directly on flight hardware and production systems, contributing to programs that routinely push the boundaries of reusability, launch frequency, and cost reduction in space access.

As global demand for satellite communications, space infrastructure, and national security launch services continues to grow, SpaceX remains one of the most important employers in aerospace and defense-adjacent technology. For professionals seeking a highly challenging, mission-driven career at the cutting edge of spaceflight and advanced engineering, SpaceX stands out as one of the most ambitious and impactful companies in the world.

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