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Sr. Manager, Hardware Reliability (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX

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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. MANAGER, HARDWARE RELIABILITY (STARLINK)

Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation that provides fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, manufacture, and operate all parts of the system including thousands of satellites and millions of customer kits. Our customers currently include teachers in the most remote parts of the Amazon, researchers in Antarctica, digital nomads who travel via RV, emergency responders, commercial airlines, cruise lines, and residential users who live in more rural or developing areas. While users can get online within minutes almost anywhere in the world, we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential. We are looking for Sr. Manager of Hardware Reliability to help maximize Starlink’s utility for individuals, communities, and businesses.

The Sr. Manager of Hardware Reliability will drive the development of our fully integrated consumer electronics and ground stations that are used all around the world. From raw material to finished product, these products are made in-house at scale in our new Bastrop, TX facility (Greater Austin). The senior manager is responsible for setting the tone for reliability and quality in Bastrop by leading a phenomenal team of engineers and technicians in a collaborative effort to minimize hardware failures in the field. The scope of this role includes ownership of reliability and quality for Starlink User Terminals, Insourced PCB and Silicon, Gateways, and Accessories made in the Bastrop Starlink factory, in addition to ownership of field reliability which includes returns, root-cause efforts, and fleet health monitoring / RMA automation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

+ Leadership Responsibilities:

+ Lead a staff of up to 50 engineers and technicians responsible for scoping, prioritizing, and executing projects to address product reliability risks, anomalies in test, build quality escapes, field performance, and operational inefficiencies

+ Be the primary point of contact for production and design engineering teams on key issues critical to program success. Ensure appropriate resources are allocated to each and status and results are clearly communicated

+ Develop and execute on growth objectives and plans with individuals directly and via coaching of Managers, Lead Engineers, and Supervisors

+ Build relationships with partner teams across sites to develop a cohesive strategy within the Starlink organization

+ Align team goals and priorities with cross-functional leaders to achieve the objectives of Insourcing PCB and Silicon, Starlink Product, and Gateway Reliability

+ Team Vision and Strategy:

+ Develop the steady-state charter, responsibilities, and ownership for Insource PCB, Silicon, Starlink Product, and Gateway Reliability as the programs mature

+ Develop, communicate, and uphold program expectations for reliability functions and quality management processes, such as nonconformance handling, traceability, change management, and retrofit execution. This includes achieving and maintaining necessary certifications with external governing bodies such as the NSF

+ Evaluate and Improve Reliability within Production:

+ Ensure test findings, escapes that cause downstream disruption, and issues related to product reliability are prioritized

+ Ensure Root Cause and Corrective Action investigations have appropriate support and/or leadership from your team

+ Ensure team runs necessary quality reviews focused on keeping product stakeholders aware of hardware issues and aligned on priority items

+ Promote proactive assessments of build-related hardware risks in order to implement improvements before they are realized in test or in the field

+ Reliability Test:

+ Ensure Insource PCB, Silicon, Starlink Product and Gateway durability around the world for different applications (i.e., Maritime, RV, and Consumer)

+ Build an effective working relationship with RF Engineers, M&P and Responsible Engineers to develop performance measurement tools and align on performance requirements

+ Ensure the team executes test campaigns in a timely manner with cost of quality in mind

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

+ Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

+ 2+ years of experience with direct report management in a technical leadership role

+ 7+ years of experience in an engineering role within design qualification, manufacturing, reliability test, or production environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

+ Experience supporting production of complex assemblies and associated test systems in both rate and development stages of their product lifecycle

+ Professional engineering experience with, or related to, PCB's and/or Microelectronics

+ Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action, 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

+ Experience bringing up a highly reliable consumer electronic product, from design, through testing, to end production

+ Experience with PCB design and fabrication

+ Experience with New Product Introduction for a high volume, highly reliable consumer electronics product

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

+ Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and offsite as required. Some travel may be 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 ITARhere (https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc\_kb\_article\_page&sys\_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987) .

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].