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.
PROCESS ENGINEER, PCB RELIABILITY (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.
As a Process Engineer on our Hardware Reliability team, you will contribute to Starlink's in-house printed circuit board (PCB) production line—the largest in North America—by supporting quality and reliability efforts from material selection through end-user performance. You will assist with quality escalations, participate in new product and process qualifications, conduct root cause investigations, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to help ensure our PCBs deliver the highest standards of reliability for Starlink user terminals, satellites, and other hardware. In this role, you'll gain hands-on experience applying industry-standard methods for PCB reliability while learning physics-of-failure analysis to support the most reliable hardware possible.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering teams to verify that PCBs satisfy mission profile requirements for space and terrestrial environments
- Conduct root cause investigations for reliability and quality escalations using physics-of-failure approaches to identify and address failure mechanisms
- Execute environmental, mechanical, and electrical testing for new PCB designs and materials in alignment with IPC standards
- Collect and analyze test data from accelerated life testing (e.g., thermal cycling, vibration, humidity) to support reliability assessments and modeling
- Develop and establish quality standards and procedures through data analysis, metric tracking, and validation testing
- Contribute to process improvements, corrective actions, and yield enhancement initiatives based on failure analysis findings to aid high-volume manufacturing
- Document results, support metric tracking, and present findings to help inform team decisions and risk mitigation
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or other applied engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with hardware development or electronics test engineering (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master's degree in a relevant field or hands-on projects/internships focused on PCB reliability, electronics manufacturing, or failure analysis
- Familiarity with IPC or similar test standards for PCBs (e.g., thermal shock, flexure, or solderability methods)
- Understanding of core physics-of-failure concepts for common PCB issues (e.g., delamination, cracking, or via reliability)
- Hands-on experience or coursework with reliability testing, environmental chambers, data analysis tools, or lab equipment (e.g., inspection techniques)
- Knowledge of additional standards such as IPC-6012, MIL-STD-810, or testing methods like HALT/HASS
- Experience with scripting (e.g., Python) for data processing or test automation
- Background in NPI, supplier support, or volume production environments
- Familiarity with failure analysis tools (e.g., X-ray, cross-sectioning, SEM, electrical test)
- Familiarity with root-cause investigations, data analysis, and experimental methods
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and hands-on skills with a desire to learn reliability engineering practices
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, hands-on environment with a passion for innovation and SpaceX's mission
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 [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in materials science, electrical engineering, physics, or other applied engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with hardware development or electronics test engineering
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
-
Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
-
Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
-
Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
