Senior Reliability Engineer, Technical Lead
About the role
Muon seeks a Senior Reliability Engineer to serve as the technical lead of the reliability vertical within our Hardware Reliability & Test organization. You'll own how Muon predicts, measures, and improves hardware reliability- building out and standardizing the models, methods, and practices that ensure our constellations keep delivering mission-critical data. The role reports to the Senior Manager of Hardware Reliability & Test.
This is a build-and-lead opportunity: reliability practice at Muon today lives within individual hardware teams, and you'll be the one to unify it. The role carries substantial growth potential as the vertical expands, including a path into people management for the right candidate.
This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.
Responsibilities
Own and evolve Muon's quantitative reliability models from component failure rates through system-level availability
Build and standardize reliability methods across hardware teams: FMEA/FMECA, fault trees, and single-point-failure analysis
Partner with domain experts across the hardware org to establish common part-level reliability standards including derating guidelines, COTS screening philosophy, and radiation-tolerance approach, capturing and codifying their expertise
Identify gaps in test coverage and reliability data, and help drive the tests that close them- partnering with qualification and test teams on test conditions, sample sizes, and life-test strategies
Close the loop with the fleet: use on-orbit performance data and anomalies to refine models and drive design guidance
Embed reliability into the hardware lifecycle by partnering with design teams on design reviews, worst-case analyses, and qualification planning
Communicate Muon's reliability posture to leadership and customers, and support proposals with reliability analyses
Mentor engineers across teams on reliability methods, laying the foundation for a growing reliability function
Required Qualifications
8+ years of engineering experience with complex, high-reliability hardware, including 5+ years in reliability engineering
Strong command of reliability analysis methods: FMEA/FMECA, fault trees, statistical reliability modeling, and derating analysis
Experience applying industry reliability standards (e.g., MIL-HDBK-217, ECSS, AEC-Q, or similar)
Demonstrated ability to turn test and field data into failure-rate estimates and actionable design recommendations
Statistical fluency: Weibull analysis, confidence bounds, accelerated life testing with supporting tools (Python, R, or dedicated reliability software)
Proven ability to define processes and drive consistency across multiple engineering teams
Excellent communication and presentation skills
B.S. or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
Nice-to-have Skills
Spacecraft or satellite reliability experience, including radiation effects on electronics
On-orbit anomaly investigation or FRACAS experience
Experience with reliability approaches for COTS-based space hardware
Experience with reliability software tools (ReliaSoft, Relyence, or similar)
Experience standing up new processes or functions within an engineering organization
Technical leadership or mentoring experience
Salary
The salary range for this role is $216,000 - $236,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process.