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.

BUILD RELIABILITY ENGINEER The Build Reliability Engineer will ensure the reliability of flight components and assemblies. This individual will evaluate product and process output data to drive improvements in manufacturing quality, and actively represent quality objectives in design and development teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Design for Manufacture

• Participates in Preliminary Design Review (PDR) / Critical Design Review (CDR) to ensure design for quality (DFQ), design for manufacturability (DFM), risk quantification and mitigation, and that appropriate test validation methods and inspection techniques, including nondestructive evaluation methods, have been considered
• Hands-on development of design for manufacturability through ensuring identification of key characteristics, prototype testing for manufacturability, First Article and Detailed Inspection planning, evaluation of previous non-conformances and lessons learned, and other manufacturing and quality tools as required

Inspection and Test Process

• Leads inspection planning for new products through identification of features and gages, and integration with planned operations
• Designs or procures new measurement methods as required and integrates with existing processes
• Validates new and existing measurement and tests methods using process capability and measurement systems analysis (MSA) statistical tools, as well as propose solutions to remove the need to verify product conformance through measurement, e.g. poka yoke
• Works with Production Quality inspectors to understand inspections with subjective criteria or those that need improvement

First Build Reviews and Walkdowns

• Co-ordinates, schedules and facilitates objective First Build Reviews to ensure transparency of design intent, design requirements, design and manufacturing risks, and manufacturability of design
• Develops and maintains engineering walkdown criteria for major product milestones to provide clear guidance to Production on engineering intent and acceptance criteria
• Identifies photo closeout requirements for complete as-built documentation

Evaluates and analyzes production quality landscape

• Uses data to make landscape transparent and drive project prioritization
• Responsible for ensuring that issues related to product reliability are primary focus
• Drives achievement of quality targets through a review hierarchy with appropriate levels of management
• Ensure controls in place to prevent reoccurrence

Root Cause and Corrective Action Investigations

• Leads, facilitates, and participates in root cause investigations in their respective area
• Deep dives using appropriate quality or analysis tools as required
• Ensures documentation of cause and corrective action is captured appropriately
• Ensures appropriate actions to prevent recurrence

Containment

• Leads activity to support containment of all suspect product
• Provides guidance to quality inspectors, techs, and shop supervisors to assist in quarantining of all suspect product
• Communicate status of evaluation and disposition to production leadership on a regular basis

Issue Ticket Review/Audit/Closure

• Supports review of all issue tickets in respective area
• Ensures rationale and documentation of design deviation is captured
• Leads and coordinates the management of non-conforming hardware

Review of Engineering Masters (EM), Work Order (WO) instructions and drawings

• Reviews and approves Engineering Orders (EO’s), Engineering Masters (EM’s), Work Orders (WO’s), specifications, and product introduction and build documentation for completeness, accuracy, regulatory compliance, and quality objectives
• Validates that drawing captures all requirements needed to build and inspect hardware
• Develops Inspection plans and modifies as required for process or design changes
• Ensures inspection/test criteria are objective with clear pass/fail criteria

Production Process Audit/Improvement

• Assesses new processes for safety and product risks
• Ensures adherence to QMS policy and procedures within their work center
• Develops criteria and builds audits to identify process weaknesses

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, manufacturing, mechanical or material sciences engineering
• Minimum 2 years in a quality, manufacturing, or design engineering role

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience supporting production of complex electro-mechanical, mechanical, or composites systems in high volume work centers and/or during production ramp-up
• 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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as required
• Some travel may be needed (up to 25%)

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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.

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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.