Lead Supplier Development Engineer, PCB/PCBA (Starshield)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

LEAD SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, PCB/PCBA (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on three areas: Earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. Designed to meet diverse mission requirements, Starshield satellites are capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users. With the proven ability to iterate rapidly, SpaceX's unique full-stack approach in developing end-to-end systems, from launch vehicles to user terminals, enables the deployment of capabilities at scale with unprecedented speed. Starshield's proliferated low-Earth orbit architecture provides inherent resiliency and constant connectivity to on-orbit assets, while SpaceX's proven rapid launch capability provides expedient and economical access to space.

Starshield demands a new type of supply chain. We require our suppliers to provide premium quality with rapidly evolving designs at commercial-scale volumes. We are actively looking for highly motivated candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and quality tools and have unrelenting motivation to enable suppliers to succeed. This position requires a combination of proven leadership and technical capabilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop a team responsible for building high-performing suppliers for Starshield satellites, user terminals, and ground station products, ensuring reliability, cost, and delivery requirements to industrialize electronics hardware

Work closely with supply chain, engineering, design, operations, and production to maintain consistency in supply chain policies and processes across the organization

Lead a team of engineers to execute the following responsibilities:

Reliability

Implement the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for hardware production qualification

Analyze supplier quality data and partner with supplier development engineers to drive supplier improvements and manufacturing development program execution

Create, improve, and implement supplier quality and manufacturing processes

Review supplier issues and recommend appropriate actions

Work closely with receiving, receiving inspection, supplier quality engineering, and assurance to purge suspect/nonconforming material from inventory and throughout the organization

Coordinate and participate in localized material review board (MRB), root cause, failure analysis, and corrective action (8D); utilize various analysis tools and make corrective action and containment recommendations

Oversee and be accountable for supplier audits to ensure suppliers can meet part performance, delivery, and reliability expectations

Manufacturing and Industrialization

Understand production processes and how purchased parts integrate into higher-level assemblies

Provide and implement Design for Manufacturing (DFM) feedback into our designs

Develop, analyze, and present process metrics to encourage design for manufacturability, quality, and supply chain improvements

Analyze and improve supplier processes for bottlenecks, yield, and rate limiters to meet throughput targets

Supplier Management

Manage supplier workflow and projects to ensure priorities are aligned with business needs

Develop schedules and plans to bring up new parts and processes in the supply chain, and support supplier execution against timeline

Lead, track, and improve supplier manufacturing process development and launch readiness for new products and design changes

Process Improvement

Develop, implement, and continuously improve business processes needed for receiving inspection operations, nonconforming hardware management, manufacturing and assembly, product traceability, and other critical business/production systems

Leadership

Create and implement action plans to rectify localized and systemic breakdowns with engineering, design, operations, maintenance, and leadership

Build relationships with cross-functional groups to identify, reduce, and ultimately eliminate impacts from vendor defects

Work with site leadership to develop future business models, establish a roadmap and measures, and execute long-term strategic plans

Provide training on quality policies and techniques throughout the organization

Develop and mentor a team of engineers in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

3+ years of experience in an engineering, supply chain, or quality role

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience with PCB fabrication, SMT, advanced packaging, electronics manufacturing, and qualification

Experience with PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)

Master’s degree in engineering or business

Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar training/experience

Experience with capacity modeling, process mapping, and fault analysis

Experience with Pareto analysis, root cause, and corrective actions

Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and material requirements planning (MRP) systems and software

Hands-on experience with electromechanical manufacturing techniques, processes, and equipment

Basic proficiency with SQL, Tableau, and other data tools

Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment, both independently and with a team

Ability to quickly and efficiently learn new skills on the job

Ability to identify and maintain priorities for tasks and projects

Strong communication and technical skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Position may involve long hours and weekend work as needed

Position may involve up to 60% travel

Position is based in Hawthorne, CA, and requires being onsite, remote work not considered

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

$135,000.00 - $215,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].