Senior Parts and Reliability Engineer

Scout Space•Reston, VA

12d•$120,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Scout Space is seeking a highly experienced Parts Engineering and Reliability Engineering Subject Matter Expert to join our Mission Assurance team. This individual will play a key role in flight assurance, serving as the technical authority for electronic, electromechanical, and mechanical (EEE/EM) parts selection, qualification, and reliability across our optical payload and launch vehicle component product lines. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for a seasoned engineer who thrives in a fast-paced, seed-stage space startup environment and wants to help build parts and reliability engineering processes from the ground up.

Requirements

10 years experience working in space/aerospace industry
Prior experience at a satellite, optical payload, or launch vehicle manufacturer
Experience with NASA or DoD space system standards (e.g., NPR 8705.4, SMC-S-009, MIL-STD-1547, MIL-STD-883)
Enthusiastic attitude towards individual and team work and collaborating with geographically diverse offices
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts and technical information clearly and concisely

Nice To Haves

15+ years experience working in space/aerospace industry
Prior experience at a satellite, optical payload, or launch vehicle manufacturer
Familiarity with DFARS/ITAR compliance considerations in a parts sourcing context
Experience building parts engineering programs from scratch at an early-stage company
Working knowledge of PLM/parts database tools

Responsibilities

Own the parts engineering program, including EEE parts selection, derating analysis, screening, and qualification for space flight hardware
Develop and maintain the Approved Parts List (APL) / Preferred Parts List (PPL) and associated parts control procedures
Lead reliability engineering activities, including FMEA/FMECA, worst-case analysis (WCA), stress analysis, and reliability predictions
Evaluate and disposition non-standard parts, GIDEP alerts, and parts obsolescence issues
Support radiation tolerance assessments (TID, SEE) for parts used in space environments
Partner with design, systems, and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure parts and materials selections meet mission reliability requirements for optical payloads and satellite subsystems
Establish and mature parts engineering and reliability procedures, work instructions, and forms as part of the company’s AS9100 Rev D quality management system buildout
Support supplier quality assessments related to parts sourcing, counterfeit parts avoidance (AS5553), and traceability
Represent parts and reliability engineering in design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and provide risk assessments to program management
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical rigor and mission assurance excellence