Sr. Supplier Development Engineer, Battery (Starlink)

InvestedintheMission; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term incentives

Health insurance

Shuttle service

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Supplier Development Engineer, Battery, to advance Starlink battery manufacturing.

You will own supplier qualification, drive quality improvements, and lead cross-functional teams across sourcing, engineering, and production to scale complex battery technologies for space applications. The role emphasizes high initiative, rigorous technical problem solving, and the ability to push innovations in machining, materials, and process development while meeting aggressive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline (e.g. mechanical, chemical, materials, metallurgical, etc.)
• 6+ years of experience in supply chain engineering, supplier development/quality, manufacturing, or design engineering
• Experience with machining methods
• Knowledge of supplier quality processes; PPAP, APQP, First Article Inspection, etc.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods like design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.
• Experience with Quality Systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; cross-functional liaison and presentation ability
• Proven ability to take initiative and work in high-pressure environments

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical contact for engineering machined components and mitigate risk to Starship by solving manufacturing and quality challenges
• Drive part quality and cost improvements using first-principles analyses of design, materials, and processes
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers; conduct technical assessments and qualification activities
• Identify and implement alternative manufacturing methods to reduce cost, lead times, and improve quality
• Own NPI and qualification processes at suppliers for new parts and changes
• Coordinate among purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and suppliers to resolve quality issues and drive improvements
• Influence design and sourcing decisions with data-driven manufacturability, quality, cost, and lead time tradeoffs
• Own root cause and corrective action processes with cross-functional investigations and robust solutions

Skills

Supply chain engineering

Supplier development/quality

Manufacturing

Design engineering

Machining methods

Design of experiments / Six Sigma

Quality systems ISO/TS/AS9100

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelors degree in engineering

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.

SR. SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, BATTERY (STARLINK)

SpaceX is seeking a highly motivated and technically proficient Sr. Supplier Development Engineer to join our Starlink team. This pivotal role focuses on manufacturing of our battery technology and scaling production to meet the ambitious demands of the Starlink program. We are looking for individuals with high agency, a strong sense of ownership, and a proven track record of delivering results in complex manufacturing environments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for highly engineering machined components and mitigate risk to the Starship program by solving high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges throughout the supply chain
• Drive piece part quality and cost improvements by applying a first-principles approach to deconstruct design, material selection and manufacturing methods – identify inefficiencies and engineering solutions that drive a step change impact in performance, yield and cost reduction
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to expand supply chain capability – conducting rigorous technical assessments, driving qualification activities, and validating process capability
• Identify and execute alternative manufacturing methods that could result in lower cost, faster lead times, and improved quality (castings, forgings, machining, etc.)
• Own New Product Introduction (NPI) and qualification processes at suppliers for new parts, drawing changes, process changes, or sourcing activities
• Function as liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and suppliers to resolve supplier quality issues, to provide technical support, and to drive continuous improvement
• Influence design and sourcing decisions by leveraging technical expertise and industry insights – provide data-driven recommendations on manufacturability, quality, cost and lead time tradeoffs
• Own the root cause and corrective action process by leading cross-functional investigations, utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies to drive widespread implementation of robust and permanent solutions

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline (e.g. mechanical, chemical, materials, metallurgical, etc.)
• 6+ years of experience in one of the following: Supply chain engineering, supplier development/quality, manufacturing, design engineering

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with machining methods and processes
• Capable of solving complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
• Knowledge of supplier quality processes; Production Part Approval Process, Advanced Product Quality Planning, First Article Inspection Reports, etc.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods like design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.
• Experience with Quality Systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• 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
• Proven ability to take initiative and act with urgency in ambiguous and high-pressure environments
• Ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and evolving technical challenges
• Own problems end-to-end, refusing to pass blame, instead digging into the details to determine and execute on path forward until resolution is achieved
• Continuously challenge the status quote by driving innovation

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work long hours and some nights and/or weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for business needs - up to 50%

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Sr. Supplier Development Engineer: $135,000.00 - $190,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

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 Affidative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].