I found a spot to farm deaths in the 18th mission and I think that it is a bit faster than the mission 17 start. Mission 17 was very inconsistent for me and I had to wait about a minute or so for the alien to show up both on the PC and Xbox versions of the game. Although the new spot takes a bit of preparation to set up but I think it is totally worth it.
You have to start up mission 18 and hack two terminals and reboot the system, initialize the docking clamp and extend the maintenance rig, so basically you have to play the mission normally until you get the objective to get to the airlock, but all that can be done in about 3 minutes. Watch out for a working Joe on the ground and the air vents so the alien won't kill you before you set up everything. When you extend the maintenance rig just follow the objective and there will be a save station on the right wall.
Be sure to make a save there and when you go through the next door the alien will drop from the ceiling. Just shoot the revolver or shotgun next to the alien and it will instantly rush toward you and grant you a quick death.
I made a quick video showcasing how to prepare the spot:
I'm not sure if running is going to attract aliens before you prepare everything but I wasn't going to risk it so I just walked through that section.