Supplier Development Engineer

SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, SUPPLY CHAIN (LAUNCH SITE)

SpaceX demands a new type of supply chain. We require our suppliers to provide premium quality with rapidly evolving designs at increasingly ambitious volumes. We are actively looking for candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and quality tools and have an unrelenting motivation to enable suppliers to succeed. This position will be the key focal point for Launch, supporting our Starship, Dragon, and Falcon programs, and requires a combination of proven leadership and technical capabilities.

This is a highly technical position that requires practical experience in process engineering and new product development through stabilized production for the machined components and assemblies used in rockets and rocket engines. The ideal candidate will have a broad understanding of the machining and assembly of metallic components and associated processes, with the desire and capability to take on new challenges in unfamiliar areas to help enable our mission to Mars.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as the technical point of contact for assigned parts or systems within flight, non-flight, and launch site and recovery infrastructure, solving emergent challenges at suppliers and mitigating risk to the manifest by addressing high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges
• Lead and coordinate containment activities to mitigate risk to build and launch schedules, and drive ongoing reliability improvements
• Intervene and drive resolution at the supplier for critical path components to ensure zero disruption to the build schedule
• 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
• Become thoroughly familiar with your assigned parts, systems, and the processes that make up the overall assembly, and become the primary point of contact for supply chain-related defects on your parts
• Work with procurement to find exceptional suppliers and vet them appropriately for quality and ability to meet our aggressive takt times
• Conduct design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews to ensure parts are manufacturable at early stages, preferably prior to sourcing
• Own the new product introduction (NPI) process at a supplier for new parts, drawing changes, or when re-sourcing existing parts to a new supplier
• Drive the production part approval process (PPAP) program to ensure stable supply, reduce inspection oversight, and improve overall delivery time
• Demonstrate innovation, technical excellence, attention to detail, self-direction, and courage to push the technical envelope, which is conventionally held in the industry
• Drive for results and customer satisfaction by collaborating with teams, leading projects, and continuously driving improvement in the supply base

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or STEM discipline 
• 1+ years of experience with manufacturing and/or inspection of mechanical products in a production environment

PREFERRED SKILLS and EXPERIENCES:

• Master’s degree in engineering
• Experience with machining and ancillary operations such as milling, turning, fabrication, and vendor design-engineered systems such as pumps, valves, and actuators
• Experience with interpreting engineering drawings and models; GD&T
• Working knowledge of supplier quality processes (production part approval process, advanced product quality planning, first article inspection reports, etc.)
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., design of experiments, Lean, Six Sigma, etc.
• Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP) and manufacturing operation systems (MRP/ERP)
• Working knowledge of problem-solving techniques such as 8D or A3
• Proficient in MS Office and Excel applications and report writing
• Proficient in SQL and Power BI
• Experience with sharing information and influencing others across organizational lines, internally and externally

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
• Must be able to travel - up to 60-85% work week travel may be required, including international travel
• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major milestones
• This position is based in Cape Canaveral, FL, and requires being on-site - remote work not considered
• Valid driver’s license