Steven Lam

NORTHROP GRUMMAN - SPACE SYSTEMS REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Staff Systems Reliability Engineer September 2008 – Present

Reliability Modeling & Statistical Analysis

• Characterize microcircuit and component reliability by applying Chi-square, Weibull, and Binomial distributions.
• Modeled space constellation and ground asset reliability and availability using advanced probabilistic principles and methods to ensure mission success.
• Developed high-fidelity Monte Carlo simulations for phased arrays to predict performance variability and mission life.
• Optimized burn-in protocols using JESD74 and JESD91 standards, ensuring screening effectiveness.
• Probabilistic risk assessments of part issues to facilitate critical path forward decisions

Physics of Failure (PoF) & Life Testing

• Assess accelerated life tests (ALTs) for solder joints and EEE parts utilizing Coffin-Manson and Arrhenius models to extrapolate mission/service field life.

Systems Engineering & Architectural Design

• Architected a complex system reliability allocation tool derived from Reliability and Availability requirements to drive sub-element design.
• Developed Operational Availability and Maintainability models (MIL-HDBK-472).
• Served as Reliability spokesperson and consultant for payload and ground teams, shaping architectures to meet aggressive SWaP (size, weight, and power), cost, and schedule constraints.

Risk Management

• Executed comprehensive safety and failure analyses, including FTA and FMECA (MIL-STD-1629/MIL-STD-882), to identify and mitigate safety-critical software and hardware items.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in Quality, Manufacturing, Design, Integration & Test, and other stakeholders to develop Critical Item mitigations and processes
• Involved in Failure Review Boards (FRB) to identify root cause and corrective action.
• Identified Single Point Failures (SPF) and fault propagation paths, implementing control processes and design mitigations for electrical and mechanical systems.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Led a Reliability team on major Space program. Facilitated cross-functional collaborations, identifying weaknesses early in the design phase to ensure high-quality, "right-the-first-time" product development.
• Served as primary focal point for customers, tailoring compliance documentation and company command media to meet specific program needs.
• Trained and mentored a multi-level engineering team on Reliability & Availability best practices and processes (MIL-HDBK-217, FIDES, FMEA, critical item controls).

Previous Roles: Test Engineer (NG), Launch Systems Integrator (NG), Electrical Engineer (Lockheed Martin), Aircraft Electrical Technician (Lockheed Martin), Energy Delivery Intern (Riverside Public Utilities)