SpaceX
Hardware Development Engineer, Failure Analysis (Starlink)
About this role
SpaceX seeks a Hardware Development Engineer to identify and resolve failures in Starlink satellite and ground station hardware. You'll conduct failure analysis on PCBAs, collaborate across engineering disciplines, and drive reliability improvements through root cause investigation and corrective actions.
What you'll do
- Perform failure analysis on satellite and gateway hardware to identify root causes and implement fixes
- Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to improve product reliability
- Use schematics and test equipment to investigate failures in PCBAs and electronic components
- Work with test engineers in a feedback loop to enhance test assets and processes
- Monitor yield rates and quality metrics, driving corrective actions for non-conforming products
- Conduct benchtop environmental testing and support production with technical guidance
What they're looking for
- Hardware failure analysis and root cause analysis
- PCB and electronic component troubleshooting
- Test equipment operation (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies)
- Digital and mixed-signal circuit design knowledge
- Python or C/C++ for test automation
- Environmental testing (HALT, HASS, thermal, vibration)
- Quality methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, SPC)
- RF electronics and digital communications protocols (SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet)
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match options
- 3 weeks paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays annually
- Short and long-term disability and life insurance
- Paid parental leave and employee stock purchase plan
- Company shuttles for roundtrip travel from Seattle to Redmond office
Opens the application — the Jobs AI extension fills it for you. Set up autofill
Opens the official application on the employer’s site. No login required.
SpaceX
SpaceX develops advanced spacecraft and satellite systems, including the Starshield government satellite constellation and Starfall re-entry cargo capsule for global delivery. The company is hiring engineers in avionics integration, software test automation, mechanical design, and hardware reliability to validate flight-critical systems and ensure mission success.
- Website
- spacex.com
Likely interview questions
- Walk us through a complex hardware failure you investigated—how did you identify the root cause?
- Describe your experience with environmental testing like HALT or HASS. What did you learn?