Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical… at SpaceX · Hawthorne

Summary: SpaceX is a company focused on enabling human life on Mars through advanced technologies. They are seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical to support the Starship program by ensuring suppliers meet quality and manufacturing standards. The role involves addressing manufacturing challenges, driving product improvements, and managing supplier relationships. Responsibilities: - Serve as the technical point of contact for assigned parts and assemblies of the rocket, solving emergent challenges at suppliers, and mitigating risk to the manifest by addressing high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges - Own the new product introduction of new parts and assemblies on the rocket, including determining the ideal manufacturing method, identifying and reviewing suppliers, and developing a reliable process for ramping to rate for parts that are new, undergoing drawing changes, or undergoing re-sourcing at a new supplier - Drive technical product improvements and related engineering drawing updates to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities as well as improve manufacturability, manufacturing lead times, and cost - Review issues on assigned parts and solve to the root cause, implementing changes at the supplier, at SpaceX or both, as appropriate, drive further actions to closure, and re-source to new suppliers where appropriate - Create and disposition issue tickets where needed, working with engineering counterparts to implement, but not limited to, required re-work, repair or use as-is disposition - Lead containment activities on assigned parts, working with cross-functional counterparts to agree on scope, path forward and ultimate resolution - Work with procurement to find exceptional suppliers and vet them appropriately for quality and ability to meet our aggressive takt times - Review and assess supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems, providing feedback as appropriate and manage supplier improvements - Demonstrate innovation, technical excellence, attention to detail, self-direction and courage to push the technical envelope which is conventionally held in the industry - Become thoroughly familiar with your assigned parts and the processes that make up the overall assembly and become the primary point of contact for supply chain related defects on your parts Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline - 1+ years of experience with manufacturing or process engineering - 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 Preferred Qualifications: - Experience with manufacturing, machined parts, fabricated components, sheet metal, composites, and/or raw materials & special processes - Experience with assessing supplier technical capability both from an equipment, operations, and personnel perspective - Knowledge of supplier quality processes (Production Part Approval Process, Advanced Product Quality Planning, First Article Inspection Reports, etc.) - Disciplined approach to problem solving – i.e. 8D - Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100) - Experience with 3D modeling/CAD software, and engineering drawing creation - Experience with Pareto analysis, root cause, corrective action, and PFMEAs - Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) experience - Knowledge of lean concepts - Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods (Minitab, design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.) - Ability to succinctly communicate status and needed actions, often urgently, to all levels of the organization - 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) Required Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Process engineering, Machining, Fabrication, Sheet metal, Composites, Supplier quality processes, Production Part Approval Process, Advanced Product Quality Planning, First Article Inspection Reports, 8D problem solving, Quality systems, ISO 9000, TS, AS9100, 3D modeling, CAD software, Engineering drawing creation, Pareto analysis, Root cause analysis, Corrective action, PFMEA, Geometric dimensioning, tolerancing, GD&T, Lean concepts, Statistical techniques, Minitab, Design of experiments, Six Sigma, Self-direction, Courage to push technical envelope Benefits: Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, Potential discretionary bonuses, Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, 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, 10 or more paid holidays per year