Sourcing Manager, Mechanical & Optical Commodities (Starlink)

Future Ventures; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX’s Starlink sourcing team is seeking a seasoned manager to lead mechanical and optical commodities for satellite hardware. You will build and optimize supplier bases, drive cost management, and align sourcing with fast-paced product development.

You will collaborate with design and engineering on NPI, manage supply continuity, and lead complex supplier negotiations to safeguard schedules and budgets. Onsite Bastrop, TX with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years in purchasing, procurement, material or supply chain management; or 9+ years without degree.
• Experience in direct commodity sourcing, NPI, and mass production environments.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and BOMs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage supply base (domestic and international) for rapid design iteration.
• Negotiate pricing, LTAs, capacity investments, lead times, and terms to ensure continuity.
• Own supply continuity, capacity planning, and production readiness for scaling programs.
• Partner with engineering teams to support NPI, design changes, qualification activities, and production transitions.
• Lead executive-level supplier escalations and mitigation of quality, delivery, and cost risks.

Skills

Procurement experience

Direct commodity sourcing

NPI experience

Reading technical drawings

Cost reduction

Category management

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SOURCING MANAGER, MECHANICAL & OPTICAL COMMODITIES (STARLINK)

SpaceX is leveraging our experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s largest satellite constellation and most advanced broadband internet system. We provide reliable and fast internet to millions of users worldwide, including populations with little or no connectivity, rural communities, aircraft, watercraft, and places where existing services are unreliable, too expensive, or disconnected by natural disasters. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system, thousands of satellites and consumer antennae that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing. The Starlink team is seeking out the best-in-class professionals to maximize Starlink’s potential for communities and businesses around the globe.

As a member of the Starlink supply chain team you will manage the sourcing across mechanical and optical commodities used on our Starlink Satellites. Our team moves quickly and you must too. SpaceX has the unique ability and desire to influence and shape suppliers to be better with us as we challenge our supply chain on cost, quality, and speed of execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and manage supply base (domestic and international) that enables rapid design iteration
• Work directly with key suppliers to develop and implement sourcing and cost management strategies that support existing platforms and new product development
• Own supply continuity, capacity planning, and production readiness for rapidly scaling programs
• Drive supplier negotiations including pricing, LTAs, capacity investments, lead times, and commercial terms to ensure continuity of supply and protect SpaceX interests
• Monitor global industry trends, track technology roadmaps, and actively partner with the design teams to identify and mitigate supply and demand challenges
• Drive supplier negotiations including pricing, LTAs, capacity investments, lead times, and commercial terms
• Partner with engineering teams to support new product introduction (NPI), design changes, qualification activities, and production transitions
• Build and maintain sourcing strategies including multi source development, vertical integration opportunities, and new manufacturing techniques
• Lead executive-level supplier escalations and recovery efforts for quality, delivery, and technical risks
• Develop clear risk assessments, mitigation plans, and production recovery strategies
• Monitor and improve supplier performance including delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost
• Drive end-to-end ownership of hardware from material readiness for prototype builds through full-rate production
• Manage costs to ensure alignment with program budget
• Present value propositions to executives, including those related to contract award, cost reviews, cost reduction strategies, and critical supply issues

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience working in purchasing, procurement, material planning, production planning, or supply chain management; or 9+ years of experience working in purchasing, procurement, material planning, production planning, or supply chain management in lieu of a degree

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 6+ years of procurement experience in direct commodity sourcing
• Technical procurement or planning experience with machined, optical, or photonic components
• Experience in new product introduction (NPI) and mass production (MP)
• Experience reading technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawing, BOMs and all related files
• Drive piece price and tooling negotiation process to ensure that SpaceX’s commodity pricing meet best-in-class expectations, while meeting best-in-class quality, in addition to driving continual cost reduction and avoidance initiatives through ad-hoc price negotiations
• Address all areas of category management including category business plans, market conditions, technology roadmaps, cost modeling, and sourcing strategies
• Proven track record of taking ownership, successfully negotiating preferred pricing, and driving results
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly in a fast-moving and ever-changing environment
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills
• Effective written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Conducts all activities with the highest level of integrity

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel and communicate outside of work hours
• Ability to travel: up to 30% of work week
• Must be able to work onsite in Bastrop, TX. Remote work not considered.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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.

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