Senior Launch Reliability Engineer, Launch Pads & Recovery

SpaceX

Confirmed live 2 days ago Trusted

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Cape Canaveral, FL
Posted: 136 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live 2 days ago
Nearby: 31 roles within 25 mi

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How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $177k

$134k most similar roles pay here $223k

This listing doesn't post a salary. Most similar roles pay $146,500–$208,050.

Based on 240 similar postings.

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About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 680 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 442 roles with salary data.

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TL;DR · Senior Launch Reliability Engineer, Launch Pads & Recovery

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Sr. Launch Reliability Engineer (Launch Pads & Recovery) joins the Launch Reliability team to ensure the reliability of flight and ground components through data-driven analysis and cross-functional collaboration. This role involves guiding hardware from design through production, operation, and maintenance while identifying high-risk processes during launch pad and recovery system refurbishment. The engineer will lead root cause investigations, manage corrective actions, and participate in preliminary and critical design reviews to ensure design for quality and manufacturability. Key responsibilities include maintaining a feedback loop for rapid launch cadence and implementing Lean approaches to quality. Required skills include experience with Six Sigma, APQP, metrology, PFMEA, and nondestructive evaluation methods. The role addresses the technical challenges of ensuring infrastructure reliability for Falcon 9, Dragon, and Starship programs to support successful rocket recovery and mission execution.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma Root Cause Analysis Corrective Action APQP PFMEA Metrology Nondestructive Evaluation Design for Quality (DFQ) Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Risk Quantification Control Plans

What you'll do

Ensure systems, processes, and infrastructure critical to launch operations and rocket recovery are efficiently designed and maintained.
Identify high-risk problems during pad and recovery system refurbishment and implement proactive process improvements.
Lead root cause and corrective action investigations to solve complex technical problems.
Use data to create a transparent quality landscape and prioritize the resolution of high-impact issues.
Participate in PDR and CDR to ensure design for quality, manufacturability, and risk mitigation.
Develop hardware inputs that enable a reliable and rapid launch cadence through continuous feedback loops.
Apply Lean principles to improve quality without compromising safety or reliability.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
5+ years of experience in a quality, manufacturing, or design engineering role.
Master's degree in an engineering discipline such as aerospace or mechanical.
Experience supporting production of complex electro-mechanical, mechanical, or composites systems.
Knowledge of quality tools including Lean principles, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, and PFMEA.
Experience owning and leading engineering projects from end to end.
Ability to pass an Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for required export control authorizations.