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Flight Reliability Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Reliability Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$103K - $130K/yr

Approximately 5+ years of reliability, mission assurance, or closely related engineering experience supporting flight hardware or similarly high-reliability systems; senior candidates typically ...

Reliability Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$110K - $138K/yr

... flight line. * Qualifying the design of this assemblies and products via rigorous functional, EMI ... Supports the Lead Reliability Engineer and performs tasks assigned by same and/or the Shared ...

Reliability Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$107K - $135K/yr

Vast is looking for a Reliability Engineer , reporting to the Vice President, Flight Safety & Mission Assurance, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and ...

Reliability Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$110K - $138K/yr

Reliability Engineer Full Time 40 hours/Week Duration: 12 months and flexible to extend further ... Experience with mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical components (actuators, flight control ...

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR FLIGHT) The Propulsion Engineer role is responsible for taking hardware ... Enable high launch cadence with unparalleled reliability through automated analysis of test and ...

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR FLIGHT) The Propulsion Engineer role is responsible for taking hardware ... Enable high launch cadence with unparalleled reliability through automated analysis of test and ...

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR FLIGHT) The Propulsion Engineer role is responsible for taking hardware ... Enable high launch cadence with unparalleled reliability through automated analysis of test and ...

Showing results 21-40

Flight Reliability Engineer information

What is a flight reliability engineer?

Flight Reliability Engineers are professionals who work to ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of aircraft and spacecraft systems. They analyze data, assess risks, and develop procedures to prevent failures during flight operations. Their work involves collaborating with design, manufacturing, and maintenance teams to identify potential issues and implement solutions. By monitoring system performance and investigating incidents, Flight Reliability Engineers help maintain high safety standards and regulatory compliance in the aerospace industry.

How does a flight reliability engineer typically collaborate with other teams during a mission lifecycle?

Flight Reliability Engineers frequently work closely with design, manufacturing, and operations teams throughout the mission lifecycle. They review and analyze system data, participate in design reviews, and coordinate with manufacturing engineers to address potential reliability risks early on. During mission operations, they often collaborate with flight controllers to monitor systems and resolve anomalies in real-time. This cross-functional teamwork ensures that reliability considerations are integrated into every phase, from development through launch and post-mission analysis.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a flight reliability engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Reliability Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, strong analytical skills, and experience with reliability analysis methods. Familiarity with tools like MATLAB, Python, reliability modeling software, and industry standards such as FMEA and FRACAS is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication are vital soft skills for collaborating across teams and addressing complex technical challenges. These competencies are essential to ensure the safety, performance, and continuous improvement of flight systems.

What is the difference between Flight Reliability Engineer vs Aircraft Maintenance Engineer?

AspectFlight Reliability EngineerAircraft Maintenance Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in reliability or systems engineeringAircraft maintenance license, certifications in repair and overhaul
Work EnvironmentDesign, analysis, and optimization in airline or aerospace companiesOn-ground maintenance, inspections, repairs at hangars or airports
Industry UsagePrimarily in airline operations, aerospace manufacturing, and system reliabilityPrimarily in airline maintenance, repair organizations, and MRO facilities

The Flight Reliability Engineer focuses on analyzing and improving aircraft system reliability through data analysis and engineering solutions, often working in design or operational support. In contrast, the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer performs hands-on repairs, inspections, and maintenance tasks to ensure aircraft safety and compliance. Both roles are essential in aviation but differ in their focus, responsibilities, and work environment.

What cities in California are hiring for Flight Reliability Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Flight Reliability Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Flight Reliability Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution.

Software Engineer (Flight Reliability)

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

$150 - $200/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

18th of 72 rated aerospace companies


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.

The Flight Reliability software team creates mission critical applications that are used throughout SpaceX to accelerate launch vehicle production and flight as well as systems that allow Starlink to grow into a worldwide fast, reliable Internet service. We are looking for engineers to help SpaceX maintain its incredible launch record.

Our team is currently creating and evolving systems to manage engineering changes and mitigate risks affecting SpaceX’s fleet of vehicles, from Falcon and Starship to Starlink and Dragon. We are expanding application features to enable SpaceX engineers to continually improve our vehicles while maintaining reliability. We are also building Agentic AI systems to further streamline operations.

Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, respectful, collaborative engineers who love solving problems and want to make an impact on a super inspiring mission. You will have full ownership of challenging problems, working with a team of enthusiastic engineers with diverse perspectives to design and produce solutions that enable SpaceX to move towards our goals at a rapid pace. The success of the missions at SpaceX depends on the software that you and your team produce.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Develop highly reliable software solutions that are used across SpaceX
  • Create new applications that improve how SpaceX operates
  • Build prototypes to prove out key design concepts and quantify technical constraints
  • Own all aspects of software engineering and product development
  • Deep dive into your users’ problems to find and create efficient solutions
  • Bring your voice to the table in team collaborations on architecture, design, and code reviews
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or scientific discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree
  • 1+ years of experience in full stack development
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
  • Programming experience in Python, C#.NET, Go, Scala, Java, or similar object-oriented language
  • 1+ years of rigorous experience building single page web applications
  • Experience with version control, continuous integration, and continuous delivery concepts
  • Deep understanding of testing, continuous integration, build, deployment, and monitoring
  • Expertise in profiling and improving application performance
  • Experience designing and deploying agentic AI systems, including LLM prompting, context retrieval, evaluation, and monitoring
  • Production experience with Docker
  • Database experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  • You may be asked to work extended hours/weekends dependent on launch cadence
  • This role requires you to be onsite. Remote and/or hybrid work will not be considered
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay range:

  • Level I: $125,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year
  • Level II: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

EXPORT REGULATIONS AND AUTHORIZATIONS
  • 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 ITAR here.
EEO Statement

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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

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About SpaceX

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Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US