Principal Supplier Development Engineer (Starship)

PRINCIPAL SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

SpaceX is seeking a highly motivated and technically proficient Principal Supplier Development Engineer to join our Starship team. This pivotal role focuses on introducing products and manufacturing methods throughout the supply chain while simultaneously scaling production to meet the ambitious demands of our Starship program. We are looking for individuals with high agency, a strong sense of ownership, and a proven track record of delivering results in complex manufacturing environments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for highly engineering machined components and mitigate risk to the Starship program by solving high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges throughout the supply chain
• Drive piece part quality and cost improvements by applying a first-principles approach to deconstruct design, material selection and manufacturing methods – identify inefficiencies and engineering solutions that drive a step change impact in performance, yield and cost reduction
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to expand supply chain capability – conducting rigorous technical assessments, driving qualification activities, and validating process capability
• Identify and execute alternative manufacturing methods that could result in lower cost, faster lead times, and improved quality (castings, forgings, machining, etc.)
• Own New Product Introduction (NPI) and qualification processes at suppliers for new parts, drawing changes, process changes, or sourcing activities
• Function as liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and suppliers to resolve supplier quality issues, to provide technical support, and to drive continuous improvement
• Influence design and sourcing decisions by leveraging technical expertise and industry insights – provide data-driven recommendations on manufacturability, quality, cost and lead time tradeoffs
• Own the root cause and corrective action process by leading cross-functional investigations, utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies to drive widespread implementation of robust and permanent solutions

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline (e.g. mechanical, chemical, materials, metallurgical, etc.)
• 8+ years of experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with machining methods and processes
• Capable of solving complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
• Knowledge of supplier quality processes; Production Part Approval Process, Advanced Product Quality Planning, First Article Inspection Reports, etc.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods like design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.
• Experience with Quality Systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• Experience with sharing information and influencing others; strong written and verbal communication skills, able to liaise cross functionally, internally and externally, make presentations to team members and management
• Proven ability to take initiative and act with urgency in ambiguous and high-pressure environments
• Ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and evolving technical challenges
• Own problems end-to-end, refusing to pass blame, instead digging into the details to determine and execute on path forward until resolution is achieved
• Continuously challenge the status quote by driving innovation

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work long hours and some nights and/or weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for business needs - up to 30%

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Principal Supply Chain Engineer: $165,000.00 - $230,000.00/per year

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, stock options, 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.