Supplier Development Engineer, Materials & Metals (Starship)

Starship needs a supply base that can hold quality while designs change and rates go up. This role is the technical owner for materials and metals at our suppliers — raw material, processing, and special processes that fly on the vehicle.

You will take hardware from new product development through stable production across metal processing, finishing, welding, heat treatment, inspection, and related processes. You need a real materials or metallurgy foundation, judgment on the shop floor, and the willingness to pick up unfamiliar work when the mission requires it.

• →Serve as the technical point of contact for materials commodities and processes, including raw material, welding, heat treatment, and finishing/coating
• →Own development of raw-material commodities and related products: select the manufacturing method, identify and vet suppliers, and build a process that can ramp to rate
• →Solve emergent supplier issues that threaten the manifest — high-impact materials, processing, manufacturing, and quality problems
• →Lead containment on materials and process escapes: scope the risk, align on a path with engineering and supply chain, and drive it to close
• →Get to root cause on materials and processing issues; implement fixes at the supplier, at SpaceX, or both
• →Create and disposition issue tickets with engineering counterparts (rework, repair, or use-as-is)
• →Drive requirement and drawing changes that cut defect risk, improve manufacturability, and reduce lead time and cost
• →Partner with procurement to find capable suppliers and assess them for quality and takt
• →Review supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems; push improvements and own follow-through
• →Be the supply-chain owner for materials- and process-related defects on your commodities

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, metallurgy, or metallurgical engineering
• 1+ years of experience with R&D, manufacturing, or processing engineering role

• Experience with manufacturing, raw materials, special processes, castings, forgings, or sheet metal
• Experience with assessing supplier technical capability from an equipment, operations, and personnel perspective
• Knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAIR, etc.)
• Disciplined approach to problem solving (8D, Pareto, root cause, corrective action, PFMEA, etc.)
• Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000//AS9100)
• Knowledge of lean concepts and statistical methods (Minitab, DOE, Six Sigma)
• Ability to clearly communicate with all levels of the organization
• Ability to influence across functions, internally and at the supplier

• Ability to work extended hours, some nights and/or weekends when needed
• Ability to travel: up to 40-50% work week travel
• Valid driver’s license

• 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.