PCB Reliability Engineer (Starshield)

About the role

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

Our PCB team is responsible for the design, test, and manufacturing phases of our satellite, gateway, and consumer hardware printed circuit boards. This role is instrumental in maintaining the highest quality and reliability standards and will work with key stakeholders to ensure the success of the constellation, ultimately enabling us to deliver internet to those that need it most.

Responsibilities

• Own design and development of PCB stackups as part of new PCB designs development
• Drive introduction of new materials, working closely with design engineers, and supply chain team
• Create test plans and drive PCB reliability campaign for volume production of PCBs for Starlink program
• Manage DFM as part of design releases, process documentation, and communication between engineering and vendor
• Identify trends and opportunities for optimizing product output, quality enhancements, and cost
• Provide feedback to engineering design teams to improve design for manufacturability
• Identify, root-cause, and come up with corrective actions for reliability failures

Basic Qualifications

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

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience working with PCB materials and PCB fab processes from industry
• Knowledge of IPC manufacturing standards
• Experience running failure analysis investigations and using tools like X-Ray, cross-section, polishing
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods such as experiment design, process capability analysis
• Demonstrated ability to gather, analyze, and use data to drive systemic improvements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones
• Willingness to travel up to 25%
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

Pay Range

Level 1: $105,000 - $122,500

Level 2: $120,000 - $150,000

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 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.

Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

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. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.