SMT Process Engineer (Starlink)

SMT PROCESS ENGINEER (STARLINK)
Hawthorne, CA, United States

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.

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One of the most ambitious missions that SpaceX has undertaken to date, Starlink is a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable. We are looking for a talented SMT Engineer to establish a pilot line and eventually ramp to full scale production for millions of devices we call User Terminals that will sit in our customers’ homes.

The success of Starlink depends on the quality, reliability, cost, manufacturability, throughput, and security of the products that you deliver. If you seek a fast-paced, dynamic environment; if you thrive on solving difficult problems where resolutions have high impact; if you love managing through persuasion and if you love the challenge of building something from scratch, then this role will be an ideal next career step.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Optimize/configure processes and equipment for building surface mount electronics assemblies
• Perform design of experiments (DOE) to launch new models and optimize SMT process yield
• Specify equipment and process requirements for new PCBA build processes
• Develop design for manufacturability (DFM) guidelines and drive change into PCBA design
• Perform process development and validation on new models in extremely aggressive timelines
• Lead efforts to uncover root-cause and develop a permanent resolution on issues found during pre-production
• Ensure the successful transition of products from development to volume production

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline OR 15+ years of professional experience working in SMT or PCBA process/manufacturing engineering

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of experience working in SMT or PCBA process/manufacturing engineering
• Hands on experience with stencil print, SPI, pick & place, reflow, AOI, ICT, x-ray inspection, underfill and staking processes
• Ability to define requirements for equipment and process control
• Ability to design efficient floor layout and drive facilities improvements
• Working experience with lead free, no clean processes
• Experience with high volume commercial, industrial or consumer grade electronics manufacturing
• Proven experience in dynamic NPI environment and transition to full scale production
• Strong work ethic, ability to drive to succeed, problem solver and hands on engineer
• Ability to work in a fast paced, continuously changing, and demanding start-up atmosphere
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability to travel domestically as necessary 

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. 

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.