SpaceX
Supplier Development Engineer, PCBA (Starlink)
About this role
SpaceX seeks a Supplier Development Engineer for Starlink to manage the quality, cost, delivery, and capacity of photonic components and optical subassemblies used in satellites. You'll collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and procurement teams to onboard suppliers, resolve quality issues, and drive continuous improvement in the supply base.
What you'll do
- Own supply continuity and improve quality, cost, delivery, and capacity metrics for photonic piece-part components and optical subassemblies
- Assess supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems to strategically source parts matched with supplier capabilities
- Identify, audit, and onboard new suppliers while defining technical and quality requirements for NPI and production phases
- Lead root cause analysis and resolution of supplier quality issues while liaising between purchasing, engineering, production, and suppliers
- Implement and monitor production part approval process (PPAP) and ensure supplier qualification and reliability activities meet requirements
- Analyze supplier metrics to identify trends, drive improvement plans, and conduct independent research for potential new suppliers and capabilities
What they're looking for
- Photonics or electronics manufacturing experience (fiber, lenses, combiners, isolators, filters, wire bonding, PCBA)
- Supply chain engineering and supplier development/quality
- PPAP, APQP, RCCA, DOE, Six Sigma, Lean methods, and 8D problem-solving
- Quality systems knowledge (ISO 9000, TS, AS9100, NADCAP)
- Statistical process control (SPC) and yield improvement
- Technical writing, presentation, and stakeholder communication
- Cost negotiation and project ownership
- Problem-solving, analytical thinking, and time management
Benefits
- Long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards
- Competitive base salary with level-based compensation structure
- Potential discretionary bonuses
- Opportunity to work on mission-critical space technology
- Cross-functional collaboration with world-class engineering teams
- Professional growth in advanced manufacturing and supply chain
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SpaceX
SpaceX develops advanced spacecraft and satellite systems, including the Starshield government satellite constellation and Starfall re-entry cargo capsule for global delivery. The company is hiring engineers in avionics integration, software test automation, mechanical design, and hardware reliability to validate flight-critical systems and ensure mission success.
- Website
- spacex.com
Likely interview questions
- Describe your experience with photonic components or PCBA manufacturing and how you've resolved a critical supplier quality issue.
- Walk us through a time when you successfully negotiated cost reductions while maintaining quality standards with a supplier.