Lead Supplier Development Engineer, PCB/PCBA (Starshield)

About the role

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

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.