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, MICROELECTRONICS FAILURE ANALYSIS (STARLINK)
Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious goal to bring high-quality internet to the globe by building a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) using our Falcon 9 and Starship reusable rockets. We are developing millions of devices for end users to link our customers to our satellites.
As a member of the Starlink Reliability team, you will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability and quality of our high-volume custom silicon products. You will own in-depth failure analysis on microelectronic components failing in manufacturing, test, or field returns, leveraging advanced lab equipment and techniques to drive root cause investigations and corrective actions that directly improve Starlink quality and reliability.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with engineering teams on planning, prioritization, and execution of root cause investigations for microelectronics failures
- Perform electrical debugging, fault isolation, and failure analysis on complex microelectronic components and systems using specialized laboratory tools
- Develop deep expertise in failure analysis equipment and techniques (SEM, EDS, FIB, cross-sectioning, etc.) to support Starlink microelectronics reliability
- Delegate routine tasks to technicians while maintaining strong hands-on involvement in complex investigations to ensure accuracy and timely results
- Clearly communicate technical findings, data insights, and recommended corrective actions to engineering, production, and management stakeholders
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- 2+ years experience in a microelectronics quality, reliability, failure analysis in a production ore research lab environment (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in an engineering, math, or science discipline
- 4+ years of experience in reliability or failure analysis of microelectronics
- Experience with programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL, and experience with data visualization tools such as Grafana, JMP, or similar
- Hands-on familiarity with common failure analysis techniques and tools such as fault isolation, cross sectioning, SEM, EDS, FIB, etc
- Familiarity with basic root cause analysis principles
- Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex data sets and identify key insights
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple priorities and deadlines
- Ability to work overtime and weekends as needed
- Ability to work in a cleanroom or ESD-controlled environment when required
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
- 2+ years experience in microelectronics quality, reliability, or failure analysis
- High school diploma or equivalency certificate
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
