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.
SR. BUILD RELIABILITY ENGINEER
The Build Reliability organization at SpaceX is an inclusive, inter-disciplinary team that is committed to the reliability of flight components and production assemblies. Your breadth of exposure as a Build Reliability Engineer will be immense as you collaborate with other core groups at SpaceX, guiding the hardware from design to production and operation. You use data to understand the factors that drive reliability, and support quality objectives in design and development teams to drive improvements in reliability in manufacturing, test and flight. You have the ability to dive deep on the details to identify, understand and solve difficult technical problems and also utilize a system level approach to prioritize issues for the vehicle as a whole. You thrive in a hands-on environment and will spend time in the office, on the factory floor, and in the lab to execute on the mission to launch astronauts to both low earth orbit and beyond. This position is applicable to multiple departments covering Falcon, Dragon, and Starship products from piece parts through integrated assemblies.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams through product development and production to create quality plans for flight hardware, including identification of key characteristics, prototype testing for functionality and manufacturability, first article and detailed inspection planning, and consideration of past failures and lessons learned
- Develop, implement and validate Lean test and inspection processes for new and existing products and process, ensuring that criteria are objective and that quality goals are consistently met
- Actively monitor the success of products and processes through production ramp-up using a suite of quality and analysis tools
- Conduct regular build quality reviews to ensure that design intent is achieved and well-communicated; identify opportunities for risk reduction and removal of complexity in designs and processes to improve manufacturability, collaborating with integrated product teams to drive improvements and address high-impact and repeating non-conformances
- Investigate failures in production, test and flight, identifying and mitigating the immediate and underlying root causes in order to reduce risk and improve reliability of designs and processes
- Contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors and engineers to assist in quarantining and rework activities
- Support the shop floor in continuous improvement and the advancing of a Lean, autonomous production system through creation of standard rework/repair guides, removal of redundant or unnecessary inspection, and improved control and optimization of critical processes
- Develop new procedures or standards that improve overall reliability of the build while reducing complexity and implementing mistake proof solutions.
- Mentor engineers across teams to improve skillsets that enable high reliability in our build and test processes.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, or engineering physics
- 5+ years in a manufacturing, quality and/or design engineering role
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience in a manufacturing environment with knowledge of processes, controls, and inspection methods.
- Experience with root cause investigations and complex problem solving
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team€™s spirit of innovation and mission of improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
- Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem solving approaches
- Dedicated to adopting a Lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability
- Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
- Experience developing or supporting any of the following products/processes:
- Advanced composites systems
- Bonding, drilling, fastening and other assembly manufacturing processes
- Avionics integration and testing
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as needed
- To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.