Sourcing Specialist, Mechanical & Optical Commodities (Starlink)

SpaceX; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sourcing Specialist for mechanical and optical commodities to support Starlink. You will manage global suppliers, lead cost reductions, and ensure production readiness for fast-paced programs.

You will collaborate with engineering on NPI, design changes, and transitions while optimizing sourcing strategies and supplier performance. This role requires travel up to 30% and onsite work in Bastrop, TX.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 2+ years in purchasing, procurement, material planning, production planning, supply chain management, or engineering.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage supply base (domestic and international) to enable rapid design iteration.
• Work with suppliers to develop sourcing and cost management strategies for existing platforms and new products.
• Own supply continuity, capacity planning, and production readiness for rapidly scaling programs.
• Lead supplier negotiations on pricing, LTAs, capacity investments, lead times, and terms.
• Monitor industry trends, track roadmaps, and partner with design teams to mitigate supply challenges.
• Support NPI, design changes, qualification activities, and production transitions with suppliers.
• Build sourcing strategies including multi-source development and new manufacturing techniques.
• Lead supplier escalations and recovery for quality, delivery, and technical risks.
• Develop risk assessments and production recovery plans.
• Improve supplier performance across delivery, quality, and cost.
• Drive end-to-end hardware ownership from prototyping to full-rate production.

Skills

Direct sourcing

Supplier negotiations

NPI & MP

Drawing & BOM review

Cost modeling

Supply chain risk

Category management

Stakeholder comms

Multi-source strategy

Production readiness

Supply & demand planning

Education

Bachelor's degree or 2+ years in purchasing

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 SPECIALIST, 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 or 2+ years of experience working in purchasing, procurement, material planning, production planning, supply chain management, or engineering

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 3+ 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.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Aff… or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out [e-mail].