Mechanical Fasteners Supplier Development Engineer

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical Hardware & Fastener for Starship in Hawthorne, CA. You will own fasteners, springs, and fluid fittings from supplier selection to high‑cadence production, working on shop floors, heat treat lines, and metrology labs to ensure flight‑critical hardware meets quality and schedule.

The role requires hands‑on manufacturing depth, comfort on the shop floor, and a track record in supplier quality and process improvement within aerospace or

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or supplier development.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical hardware commodity for Starship: Fasteners, dynamic hardware, and fluid control from supplier selection through rate production.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned parts and suppliers; resolve emergent manufacturing, quality, and capacity issues.
• Lead new product introduction (NPI) and work transfers for fastener and hardware products: qualify suppliers, validate processes, and ramp production to aggressive takt times.
• Drive production part approval and process validation (PPAP, FAIR, capability studies) so every critical characteristic is controlled and proven before hardware reaches the vehicle.
• Lead containment on nonconforming hardware; define scope with engineering, quality, and production; execute disposition (rework, repair, use-as-is, or scrap).
• Root‑cause defects at the supplier, SpaceX, or both — including heat treat, plating/coating, thread forming/rolling, machining, forging, material certs, and GD&T escapes.
• Partner with design and manufacturing engineering to improve part designs, specifications, and process callouts for manufacturability, lead time, cost, and defect reduction.
• Assess supplier capability and capacity (equipment, tooling, personnel, quality systems) and develop underperforming suppliers or dual‑source/re‑source when required.
• Work with procurement to identify, vet, and grow exceptional fastener and specialty hardware suppliers who can meet aerospace quality and SpaceX rate.
• Become the go‑to expert on your parts and processes; own supply‑chain‑related defects and drive them to zero escapes.
• Serve as SpaceX’s SAE representative; attend technical committee meetings and advocate for company positions on fastener, hardware, and related standards.

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical Hardware & Fastener for Starship in Hawthorne, CA. You will own fasteners, springs, and fluid fittings from supplier selection to high‑cadence production, working on shop floors, heat treat lines, and metrology labs to ensure flight‑critical hardware meets quality and schedule.

The role requires hands‑on manufacturing depth, comfort on the shop floor, and a track record in supplier quality and process improvement within aerospace or