Radiation Effects Engineer

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation (3 weeks)

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP is seeking a Radiation Effects Engineer in Hawthorne, California. This engineer will ensure avionics performance in challenging radiation environments by conducting detailed analysis and tests across various systems.

The ideal candidate will hold a relevant Bachelor's degree and have a minimum of one year of experience in radiation effects. Strong communication and technical skills are essential, as well as familiarity with avionics hardware. The role offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of professional experience in the radiation effects field.
• Experience writing scripts to control test hardware.
• Prior component engineering or component reliability experience.

Responsibilities

• Support radiation test and analysis results and recommendations.
• Develop component databases for interfacing radiation test data.
• Review PCN changes for radiation qualification status.

Skills

Experience with single‑event effects risk calculations

Proficiency with avionics hardware

Strong mathematics and statistics knowledge

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical, materials, physics, or another engineering discipline

Tools

Hardware blueprints/schematics

Circuit functions based on designs

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.

RADIATION EFFECTS ENGINEER

As a member of our fast‑paced Radiation Effects team, you will be responsible for ensuring avionics hardware performance across our fleet of vehicles (Dragon, Falcon, Starship, Lunar Human Landing System, etc.) through some of the harshest and most varied radiation environments imaginable. In this role you will conduct analysis, design, and test at the component, board, unit, and subsystem levels, interfacing with design, manufacturing, integration, and mission‑operations teams to advance our broadband satellite internet and secure, reliable, inexpensive, and innovative access to space.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support a cross‑discipline team of design and system engineers in providing radiation test and analysis results, recommendations for mitigating radiation effects, and modeling and analysis reports.
• Develop component databases and applications for interfacing with radiation test data used across programs.
• Work with supply chain, component reliability, and radiation engineering to ensure test data collected during radiation test campaigns is available and accessible to design engineers.
• Review PCN changes to maintain radiation qualification status.
• Develop testing and reporting standards for component and flight PCBA radiation tests.
• Collaborate with supply chain and component reliability teams to refine preferred components across programs.
• Analyze and improve test coverage in collaboration with circuit design, electronics manufacturing, and software implementation.
• Recommend design, process improvements, and data collection strategies.
• Establish requirements for component procurement specifications.
• Comply with all radiation regulatory requirements for radiation safety.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, materials, physics, or another engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of professional experience in the radiation effects field (internships and project experience are applicable).

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience with single‑event effects risk calculations.
• Previous work experience in radiation effects including modeling, testing, and/or analysis.
• Experience writing scripts to control test hardware.
• Proficiency with hardware blueprints/schematics and circuit functions based on designs.
• Prior component engineering or component reliability experience.
• Strong mathematics and statistics knowledge base.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with avionics hardware, including integrated circuits, PCBA boards, sensors/transducers, functional troubleshooting, and defect detection.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

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

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay Range:

• Level 1: $105,000.00 – $122,500.00
• Level 2: $120,000.00 – $150,000.00

Base salary is determined on a case‑by‑case basis based on job‑related knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base pay, you may be eligible for long‑term incentives, discretionary bonuses, and an employee stock purchase plan. You will also receive comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, short‑term and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid vacation (3 weeks), and at least 10 paid holidays per year. Paid sick leave is accrued in accordance with company policy.

To comply with U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. (Learn more about the ITAR.)

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, 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 requesting reasonable accommodation to the application or interview process, should reach out to [e-mail].