Hardware Development Engineer, Failure Analysis (Gateway)

SpaceX; Redmond; On-site; AUD 149,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Company shuttle

Job summary

SpaceX in Redmond, WA is hiring a Hardware Development Engineer focused on Failure Analysis for Gateway and Starlink hardware. You will identify root causes of failures in satellites and ground stations, drive corrective actions, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve product reliability.

The role requires hands-on analysis, environmental testing, and strong experience with digital, power, and RF electronics.

Qualifications

• 1+ years in hardware development, failure analysis, or reliability engineering (internships ok).
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent preferred.
• Experience with digital/mixed-signal designs and probes/tools.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed failure analysis of satellite and gateway hardware and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and supply chain to improve reliability and processes.
• Use schematics, test equipment, and inspections to investigate PCBAs and components.
• Work with test engineers to feedback improvements for test assets.
• Monitor yield and quality metrics; drive corrective actions for non-conforming products.
• Conduct benchtop environmental testing to validate robustness.
• Support production and field operations with technical guidance on failure resolution.
• Maintain documentation of findings, results, and actions.

Skills

Failure analysis

Reliability engineering

Test automation

Cross-functional collaboration

Python

C/C++

Education

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Digital multimeters

Power supplies

Soldering equipment

HALT/HASS equipment

Python

C/C++

Job description

Hardware Development Engineer, Failure Analysis (Gateway)

Redmond, WA

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

HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, FAILURE ANALYSIS (GATEWAY)

As a Hardware Development Engineer for Starlink, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and performance of our satellites and ground stations. You will work on identifying, analyzing, and resolving hardware failures to improve the robustness and longevity of our PCBAs. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams including electrical, mechanical, software, and supply chain to enhance the overall reliability of the Starlink network. This is an opportunity to work on cutting edge R&D technology, and some of the most complex applications of electrical engineering in the industry.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform detailed failure analysis of satellite and gateway hardware, identifying root causes of failures and implementing corrective actions.


• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to improve product reliability and manufacturing processes.


• Utilize schematics, test equipment, and inspection processes to conduct failure investigations on PCBAs and other electronic components.


• Work closely with the respective test engineers for your products to keep a close feedback loop improving test assets.


• Monitor yield rates and quality metrics, driving corrective actions to address non-conforming products.


• Conduct benchtop environmental testing to validate product robustness.


• Support production and field operations by providing technical guidance on failure resolution and process improvements.


• Maintain thorough documentation of failure analysis findings, test results, and corrective actions.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• 1+ years of experience in hardware development, failure analysis, or reliability engineering (internships and co-ops acceptable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent engineering discipline.


• 3+ years of industry experience working with electronic hardware.


• Experience with digital and mixed-signal designs, power electronics, or RF electronics using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, and soldering equipment.


• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and root causing electrical hardware failures.


• Experience with environmental testing such as HALT/HASS, thermal, vibration, and TVAC


• Proficiency in programming languages (Python, C/C++) for test automation and data analysis.


• Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, and corrective action.


• Experience developing or supporting any of the following products/processes:


• Analog, digital, and mixed signal circuit testing.


• RF hardware testing.


• Design for excellence (DFX), derating, and related analyses.


• Digital communications interfaces including SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet, and RS422.


• Statistical Process Control (SPC).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines


• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for innovation, and commitment to improving reliability in cutting-edge technology

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $105,000.00 - $145,000.00
Level 2: $120,000.00 - $175,000.00

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 in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

• 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 .

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 Affiative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A \"disabled veteran\" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A \"recently separated veteran\" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An \"active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran\" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An \"Armed forces service medal veteran\" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.