Design Reliability Engineering Manager

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

CLV-1 is the first human-capable lunar rover since 1972. It will carry Artemis IV astronauts across the lunar South Pole, one of the harshest environments humans have ever worked in. There is no service center. It must work. As the Design Reliability Engineering Manager, you will ensure CLV-1's systems survive the mission. You will work across disciplines to build reliability into the design itself, identifying and mitigating failures before they arise.

What you'll do:

Lead reliability engineering end-to-end: define and own the reliability program across avionics, mechanisms, power, thermal, and structures for current and future rover programs

Build and manage a team of reliability and design assurance engineers, setting hiring priorities, technical standards, and growth paths as the company scales

Architect Astrolab's design standards and test methodologies

Champion the Astrolab design process and set design criteria, requirements, and verification approaches for new hardware

Own change and risk reviews, translating technical risk and impact into decisions the team can act on

Become the person the organization trusts to translate technical risk into clear, confident decisions

Build the processes that ensure designs meet standards, reviews are comprehensive, changes are implemented, and risks are mitigated

Flow reliability requirements down to hardware: margins, screening levels, derating guidelines

Develop specialized analysis tools, review templates, reliability checklists, and design guides

Mentor engineers on reliability methods and analysis techniques

Capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvements to strengthen standards and processes

What you'll bring:

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) related field

5+ years in reliability, design assurance, or systems engineering for spaceflight, aerospace, or other high-consequence hardware (defense, nuclear, medical devices considered)

2+ years in a people-management or team-lead role

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with FMEA/FMECA, fault tree analysis, reliability prediction (MIL-HDBK-217 or physics-of-failure methods), and worst-case analysis.

Experience with the environments that break lunar hardware: extreme thermal cycling, vacuum outgassing, radiation (SEU/SEL/TID), regolith/dust contamination, and launch/landing shock and vibration loads.

Experience designing, integrating, testing, or operating space vehicles or other large, complex systems

Experience standing up a reliability function at a growth-stage company.

Experience creating engineering standards, review templates, or technical guidance frameworks

Experience with manufacturing processes, materials selection, and hardware qualification pathways

Experience with fracture control, human-rated hardware standards, or similar reliability frameworks

Benefits and Perks

Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration

Equity ownership in the company

Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support

401(k) plan with company match

Flexible PTO and parental leave

Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site

Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks

About Astrolab

Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…

Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.

Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life.

Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.

Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.

Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.