Supplier Development Engineer, Harnessing (Starshield)

Summary

SpaceX is a company focused on developing technologies to enable human life on Mars, and they are seeking a Supplier Development Engineer for their Starshield program. This role involves managing supply chain strategies, collaborating with various teams, and ensuring the quality and delivery of components for satellite hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own continuity of supply for copper and fiber cable harnessing on the Starshield program
• Collaborate with design, R&D, commercial supply chain, hardware reliability, and production teams to manage suppliers and deliver world class products for our customers
• Support procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier capabilities by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems
• Identify, audit, and onboard new suppliers
• Develop and implement supplier technical requirements and quality flow to meet hardware manufacturing needs
• Implement and monitor production part approval process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to enable rate production
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends and pinpoint systemic performance gaps to drive supplier improvement plans
• Function as liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to resolve supplier quality issues and to provide technical support
• Drive supplier root cause failure analysis and corrective actions associated with quality gaps, escapes, or containments
• Lead projects and present reports to internal teams, management, and/or suppliers
• Act as internal owner of supplier’s statistical process control (SPC), yield improvement activities, new tool/process qualification, and performance in terms of quality, efficiency, and cost

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• 1+ year of experience in a manufacturing and/or process engineering role, or 1+ years of engineering internship experience
• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel: Up to 25-60% work week travel may be required
• Valid driver's license
• This role is onsite in Hawthorne, CA, remote work not considered
• Master's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• Experience with copper or fiber harnessing or cable manufacturing (including school projects, clubs, or internships)
• Experience with IPC-620 WHMA, or applicable USCAR standards
• Experience with manufacturing operations and improvement plans for capacity and quality
• Working knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAIR, RCCA failure analysis, lean methods) and quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., SPC, design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with minimal oversight and learn new skills on-the-job quickly and efficiently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to make presentations to suppliers, team members, and leadership

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• 1+ year of experience in a manufacturing and/or process engineering role, or 1+ years of engineering internship experience
• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel: Up to 25-60% work week travel may be required
• Valid driver's license
• This role is onsite in Hawthorne, CA, remote work not considered

Nice to Haves

• Master's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• Experience with copper or fiber harnessing or cable manufacturing (including school projects, clubs, or internships)
• Experience with IPC-620 WHMA, or applicable USCAR standards
• Experience with manufacturing operations and improvement plans for capacity and quality
• Working knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAIR, RCCA failure analysis, lean methods) and quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., SPC, design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with minimal oversight and learn new skills on-the-job quickly and efficiently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to make presentations to suppliers, team members, and leadership

Benefits

• Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 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
• Various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 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