Test Reliability Engineer (Raptor)
SpaceXMcGregor, TXPosted 16 March 2026
Job Description
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.
TEST RELIABILITY ENGINEER (RAPTOR)
Raptor is a full-flow, staged combustion engine powering Starship – the most powerful launch vehicle in the world that is designed for heavy payload transport, multi-planetary travel, and complete reusability. The Raptor program is currently developing the design and factory to achieve maximum performance and high pace production to support planned missions to the Moon and Mars. As part of the Build Reliability organization, you will join an inclusive, interdisciplinary team that collaborates with other core teams to drive reliability across manufacturing, test, and flight. You will be the primary contact for hardware concerns, drive systematic improvements, support root cause investigations, and dive into understanding and defining technical requirements with data. You thrive in a hands-on environment and will spend time in the Raptor Ops Center, on the various Raptor Test Stands, and in support labs to execute on the mission to make humanity interplanetary.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Partner with design engineering, manufacturing and engine test teams through product testing development, engine acceptance testing and post-test manufacturing checkouts and dress outs to create quality hardware validation for flight assemblies, including identification of key operating characteristics, prototype development testing for functionality and high-speed manufacturability, flight and prototype planning development, and collation of testing failures and lessons learned
Develop, implement, and validate Lean test and inspection processes for new and existing products, ensuring that acceptance criteria are objective and that quality and reliability goals are consistently met
Monitor the success of products and processes through production, test and delivery to integration using a suite of quality and analysis tools, including FMECA and other root cause analysis systems
Investigate failures in production, test and flight; identify and mitigate the immediate and underlying root causes to reduce risk and improve reliability of designs and processes
Contain suspect or known non-conforming product; provide guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors and engineers to assist in quarantining and rework activities
Support the shop floor in continuous improvement and the advancing of a Lean, autonomous production system through creation of standard rework/repair guides, removal of redundant or unnecessary inspection, and improved control and optimization of critical processes
Help the reliability team develop and maintain data systems that show the Raptor program key performance indicators, overall program metrics and conformance of Raptors delivered to Starbase.
Transition seamlessly between highly developmental hardware and high rigor and fully traceable flight hardware
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics
1+ years in a manufacturing, quality, and/or design engineering role
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team’s spirit of innovation and mission of improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or electrical engineering
Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, ... (truncated, view full listing at source)
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