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Principal Hardware Reliability Engineer

K2 Space

Los Angeles, USA

Senior · 8+ years experience

USD 185000-220000 / year

Discovered 1 weeks ago

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Responsibilities

Own the development and maintenance of top-level reliability requirements, models, and allocations across the full spacecraft and constellation portfolio to meet vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availability
Define and drive HALT/HASS strategies, accelerated testing plans, and reliability growth programs across spacecraft development and production, including test standardization, lot acceptance derivations, and success-run demonstration analysis to confirm campaigns meet flight-life requirements
Establish and evolve reliability modelling frameworks, including Weibull and Kaplan-Meier analysis, accelerated failure time (AFT) modeling (e.g., Norris-Landzberg, Arrhenius), Monte Carlo simulations, and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), reconciling QTP, ATP, HALT, HASS, and flight telemetry data onto a single wear-out model
Integrate reliability analyses with program risk management and drive actionable insights that influence design, manufacturing, and test decisions
Flow down reliability requirements to subsystems, including margins, screening levels, derating guidelines, and test requirements, and ensure consistent application across programs
Lead root cause investigations on critical hardware failures and drive systemic corrective actions that improve product robustness and mission reliability
Collaborate closely with design, systems, test, and manufacturing teams to embed reliability principles early in the development process and optimize for mass production
Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers on reliability methods, analysis techniques, and best practices, while helping shape the long-term technical direction and growth of the reliability function at K2 Space
Serve as a technical authority on reliability across multiple spacecraft programs, advising leadership on risk trade-offs and reliability strategy
Own FRACAS and test-effectiveness tracking to close the loop between failure data, corrective actions, and reliability predictions
Partner with responsible engineers to implement telemetry and instrumentation for degradation observability on flight and test hardware
Advance degradation-based and Bayesian reliability methods, including Gamma/Wiener process degradation models and MCMC-based hierarchical pooling, to extend the reliability framework beyond binary pass/fail testing

Qualifications

S. degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, or other related discipline
8+ years of experience in reliability engineering, hardware testing, failure analysis, or related fields in the space, automotive, semiconductor, or other high-reliability industries
Nice to have
S. or PhD in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, or other related discipline
Experience developing and executing life testing methods, including accelerated life testing (ALT) and reliability growth programs
Experience with accelerated failure time (AFT) modeling, including Norris-Landzberg and Arrhenius acceleration models, for translating ground test severity to flight conditions
Experience reconciling multiple ground test sources (QTP, ATP, HALT, HASS) and flight telemetry onto a single reliability model, including distinguishing workmanship/infant-mortality failure modes from wear-out mechanisms
Familiarity with success-run and zero-failure demonstration statistics, and sample-size/DOE methods for reliability test planning
Exposure to degradation-based reliability modeling (Gamma or Wiener process models, accelerated degradation testing) as a complement to binary pass/fail Weibull analysis
Experience with thermal, vibration, and TVAC qualification and acceptance testing approaches
Experience with EEE components (Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical), including semiconductor devices and packaging technologies, in high-reliability or space applications
Experience building reliability prediction models (Weibull, Kaplan-Meier, Monte Carlo, reliability block diagrams) and performing system-level analyses (FTA, PRA)
Strong foundation in statistical modeling and data analysis, with experience developing custom models for engineering or production data. Experience with Bayesian hierarchical modeling and MCMC tools (e.g., PyMC, Stan, NumPyro) for reliability parameter estimation is a plus
Proficiency in programming languages (such as Python or C++) for data analysis, statistical modeling, and reliability calculations
Familiarity with derating practices, Design for Excellence (DFX), and requirements flow-down in complex hardware systems
Experience with Physics of Failure (PoF) methodologies, including Sherlock or similar modeling tools, and identification of dominant failure mechanisms in electronic hardware and EEE components
Experience with reliability growth tracking or working toward probability of success / availability targets on vehicles or constellations
Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to clearly present technical findings to both engineering and leadership teams
Experience in a fast-paced startup or new-space environment with high ownership and broad scope
Familiarity with FRACAS and test-effectiveness tracking processes
Compensation and Benefits:
Base salary range for this role is $185,000 - $220,000 + equity in the company
Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!
If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
Export Compliance
As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”
The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
Equal Opportunity
K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space 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.