Hardware Reliability Specialist, Gateway (Starlink)

industrial maintenance jobs; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Hardware Reliability Specialist, Gateway (Starlink) to own production quality and reliability across Starlink terminal manufacturing. You will drive conformance, RCA, and containment with cross‑functional teams to ensure scalable, high‑quality hardware for homes and businesses.

The role requires hands-on experience with testing, PFMEA, PCBA drawings, and high‑volume production; collaboration with manufacturing engineering, design, supply chain and customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, math, or science OR equivalent with 2+ years in hands‑on engineering, reliability, manufacturing, or quality
• Experience hardware root cause investigation and containment in manufacturing
• Experience with J-STD-001 Class 2 or IPC‑A‑610 Class 2 in production environments
• Experience programming, loading, and operating automated production or test equipment; electrical, environmental, HALT testing
• Creativity and problem-solving with minimal supervision in NPI environments
• Ability to deliver high‑quality hardware in fast-paced settings and adapt to changes quickly
• Excellent computer skills (email, Windows, ERP/MRP/MES, Python, C, SQL)
• Strong written and verbal communication and teamwork
• Ability to understand satellite subsystems and product state to suggest improvements
• Ability to read engineering drawings including PCBA schematics and tolerances
• Experience developing process documents and procedures
• Experience PFMEA
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing
• Basic familiarity with ISO 9001 standards

Responsibilities

• Execute MRB, vendor defects, quality audits, and production containment; drive root cause and preventive actions
• Analyze production defect data and lead quality reviews; identify yield improvements
• Assist production in developing process improvements and train technicians
• Monitor first pass yield and true yield to meet production rate and cost targets
• Ensure smooth transition from development to high volume production
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to mitigate production defects
• Conduct area audits in compliance with ISO 9001 standards

Skills

Root cause analysis

Test equipment operation

Programming (Python/C/SQL)

Engineering drawings

PFMEA

ISO 9001

Education

Engineering/Math/Science degree

High school diploma + 2+ years experience

Tools

J-STD-001 Class 2

IPC-A-610 Class 2

Automated test equipment

HALT test equipment

ERP/MRP/MES systems

Job description

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 RELIABILITY SPECIALIST, GATEWAY (STARLINK)

SpaceX is leveraging our experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s largest satellite constellation and most advanced broadband internet system. We provide reliable and fast internet to millions of users worldwide, including populations with little or no connectivity, rural communities, aircraft, watercraft, and places where existing services are unreliable, too expensive, or disconnected by natural disasters. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system: thousands of satellites and consumer antennae that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing. The Starlink team is seeking out the best‑in‑class professionals to maximize Starlink’s potential for communities and businesses around the globe.

The success of Starlink depends on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, and security of the products that you deliver. If you seek a fast‑paced, dynamic environment; if you thrive on solving difficult problems where resolutions have high impact; and if you love the challenge of building something from scratch, then this role will be an ideal next career step. We are looking for talented reliability specialists to take ownership of production quality and reliability for state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing processes across Starlink user terminal production (a high‑volume manufactured product that consumers will have in their homes). Your work will form the backbone for millions of next‑generation devices used all over the world. For homes, schools, businesses, vehicles, planes, or boats, this team plays an instrumental role in ensuring high‑speed connectivity is available to all who need it.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Execute production non‑conformance management processes including MRB, vendor defects, quality audits, and production containments for various Starlink manufacturing lines. Drive root cause, resolution, and preventative actions
• Analyze production defect data and hold quality reviews to drive root cause and corrective action. Identify continuous improvement opportunities for yield, performance and scrap
• Assist production in developing process improvements and provide training to production technicians to ensure Starlink standards are being met
• Monitor production first pass yield (FPY) and true yield to maintain a stable production environment capable of meeting the required production rate, reliability, and cost
• Ensure successful transition of products from development to high volume production
• Build relationships with cross‑functional groups including manufacturing engineering, design engineering, supply chain, and customer support to identify, reduce, and ultimately eliminate impacts from production defects
• Perform area audits in compliance with ISO 9001 standards

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, math, or science‑related discipline OR high school diploma or equivalency certificate and 2+ years of experience in hands‑on engineering, reliability, manufacturing, or quality environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in engineering, math, or science discipline
• Experience conducting hardware root cause investigation and containment activity in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with J‑STD‑001 Class 2, IPC‑A‑610 Class 2 or equivalent hardware in production environment
• Experience programming, loading, and operating automated production or test equipment. Experience with electrical test, environmental test, HALT test. Experience in laboratory setting
• Demonstrated capability to think creatively and solve complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
• Ability to deliver high‑quality hardware in a fast‑paced NPI environment. Ability to adapt and process changes quickly
• Excellent computer skills (e‑mail, Microsoft Windows, ERP/MRP/MES systems, python, C, SQL)
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and teamwork skills. Good written, oral, presentation, and documentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to use technical knowledge and quality background to understand the current state and the most optimal path forward. Ability to provide process and design improvement suggestions to engineering
• Ability to acquire new technical knowledge, particularly around how satellite subsystems operate and function
• Experience reading engineering drawings, including electrical PCBA schematics and mechanical tolerance stacking
• Experience developing process documents and procedures
• Experience with process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA)
• Experience in high‑volume manufacturing setting
• Basic familiarity and/or certification with ISO 9001 standards

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Able to work one of the following shifts:
  • A Shift (5:00am - 5:00pm, Sun - Wed)
  • B Shift (5:00am - 5:00pm, Wed - Sat)
  • C Shift (5:00pm - 5:00am, Sun - Wed)
  • D Shift (5:00pm - 5:00am, Wed - Sat)
• This position is based in Bastrop, TX and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
• Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching may be required to perform functions of this position
• Able to lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted

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.

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 [e-mail].