Mission Operations - Flight Reliability Engineer

At Stoke, we believe that a thriving space economy leads to a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we are building our fully and rapidly reusable vehicle, Nova. It is designed to fly daily and solve the core challenges of space transportation – it reduces cost, increases availability, and enhances reliability. By radically lowering the cost and increasing the cadence of launch, we’re able to create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered with ownership of their work. If you want to work with some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, come join us.

Description

Frequent, reliable launches and landings are critical to achieving a sustainable and reusable spaceflight system. As a Flight Reliability Engineer in Stoke Space’s Mission Operations department, you’ll be the person ensuring our early Nova rocket launches meet our standards of reliability and safety. This is a role that requires an independent problem solver and a fair amount of critical thinking. This person will be writing the playbook for flight reliability at Stoke. Success in this role will require diving into the details, identifying what needs to be done, and making it happen. You’ll work directly with engineering, production, and operations teams, solving real problems on tight timelines. From risk assessments to launch-day troubleshooting, you’ll be the go-to person ensuring everything works as it should. Expect to get your hands dirty, move fast, and make decisions that directly impact mission success.

Responsibilities

• Own flight reliability planning and execution for Nova rocket launches, including risk assessments and failure mitigation strategies.

• Solve problems in real time during test and launch operations, leading root cause investigations and implementing fixes.

• Implement Stoke practices that measure and assess risks during the lead up to major milestone events.

• Analyze data from integrated tests and flight campaigns, identifying weaknesses and ensuring they don’t become failures.

• Develop and track meaningful reliability metrics, providing actionable insights to improve system performance.

• Work hands-on with hardware and software systems to embed reliability into every step of operations.

• Contribute to launch readiness by writing procedures, supporting rehearsals, and ensuring we’re always prepared for what could go wrong.

• Stay laser-focused on getting the job done right the first time, no matter the challenge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering, or equivalent experience

• 5+ years of experience in reliability engineering, quality assurance, or systems engineering, preferably in aerospace or other fast-paced, high-stakes industries

• Proven ability to troubleshoot and solve problems under pressure, whether in the test bay or on the launch pad

• Expertise in reliability tools and techniques like FMECA, reliability predictions, and fault tree analysis

• Experience with integrated test campaigns and launch operations, including anomaly resolution

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience

• Experience working on reusable rocket systems or similar high-reliability projects

• Strong technical instincts and a track record of making the right calls when it matters most

• Certifications like CRE (Certified Reliability Engineer) or equivalent

Benefits

• Equity – We are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees. 

• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance 

• Company-paid life and disability insurance 

• 401(k) plan with employer match 

• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off  

• Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure) 

• Paid Family/Parental Leave  

• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location) 

• Dog friendly offices! 

Compensation

Target Levels:

• Level 3 range: $123,000 - $184,400

• Level 4 range: $144,100 - $240,100 

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis. 
Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity 

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status.  It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII.   It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring. 

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.  Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations.  Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.