Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Falcon & Dragon)

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 unrelenting motivation to enable suppliers to succeed. This position will support our Dragon and Falcon programs and requires a combination of proven leadership and technical capabilities.

This is a highly technical and cross-functional position that requires practical experience in manufacturing engineering from new product development to 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, along with its associated processes. This person should have a strong desire and ability to take on new challenges in unfamiliar areas to help enable our mission to Mars.

• →Serve as the technical point of contact for assigned parts, solving emergent challenges at suppliers and mitigating risk to the manifest by addressing high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges
• →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
• →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 dispositions
• →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
• →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 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 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
• →Lead containment activities on assigned parts, working with cross-functional counterparts to agree on scope, path forward and ultimate resolution

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline 
• 1+ years of experience with manufacturing and/or inspection of mechanical products in a production environment (including school projects, clubs, or internships)

• Hands-on experience with machining and ancillary operations such as milling, turning, drilling and cutting of materials
• Experience with interpreting engineering drawings, models, and application of GD&T principles.
• 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.)
• Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP) and MRP/ERP systems
• Disciplined approach to problem solving – i.e.8D
• Experience with 3D modeling/CAD software, and engineering drawing creation
• Experience with Pareto analysis, root cause, corrective action, and PFMEAs
• Proficient in SQL and PowerBI
• 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)

• Ability to travel: up to 40-50% work week travel
• Ability to work extended hours, some nights and/or weekends as needed to meet major milestones
• This position is based in Hawthorne, CA and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
• 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.