Sr. Supplier Development Engineer, Data Center (Starlink)

United States Digital Space LLC; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking a Sr. Supplier Development Engineer, Data Center to drive supplier selection, design collaboration, and integration across rack-level solutions for hyperscale facilities.

You will collaborate with internal teams and suppliers to ensure reliable, high-performance data center infrastructure. The role emphasizes ownership, technical excellence, and cross-functional leadership, with onsite requirements in Bastrop, TX, Palo Alto, CA, or Memphis, TN.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, electronics engineering or related field.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience in data center hardware design, integration, or manufacturing.
• Master's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering preferred.
• 7+ years of experience focused on hyperscale or large-scale data center development and execution of complex rack solutions.
• Proficiency in statistical data analysis using JMP and Python.
• Experience in failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, CSAM, FIB, X-ray, cross-sectioning and EDX.
• Experience in thermal analysis and data center cooling systems.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data center hardware and processes from a first principles, physics-based approach with focus on mechanical domain.
• Own complex rack-level solutions and system-level design decisions across mechanical, electrical, power, thermal, networking, and software integration domains.
• Lead the integration of Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) principles into data center strategy and architecture for uptime and continuity.
• Experience in rack-level solution design and integration, switch/server experience, including compute (CPU-GPU), storage, or networking hardware integration.
• Provide deep technical guidance on rack infrastructure including PDUs, cooling systems, airflow design, and high-density compute integration.
• Apply reliability methods and thermal engineering, mechanical engineering and electronics to design accelerated test plans for design validation, burn-in testing, ESS, and ORT.
• Facilitate and lead design FMEA sessions to assess hardware risks, determine validation test plans and drive reliable design choices.
• Develop hardware qualification criteria, collaborate on functional and reliability requirements, and drive system-level optimization for high-volume installation.
• Direct the supplier process modifications while ultimately responsible for approving first article inspection (FAI) reports, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) reports.
• Collaborate with design, materials, and infrastructure engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of hardware components and drive root cause corrective action with suppliers.
• Support the procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier competencies by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems.
• Create and define supplier technical and quality requirements based on reliability lessons learned to enable continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, proactivity, technical excellence, creativity, self-direction, and courage.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Python

JMP

DOE

Failure analysis

Thermal analysis

Rack-level design

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

the company 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 the company is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, DATA CENTER (STARLINK)

the company is on mission to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. We are looking for talented, creative, and driven data center engineers to develop, drive, and maintain suppliers, from initial concept development to full scale production.

This is a high-profile, cross functional position that plays an integral role in enabling development and production of data centers. You will work in close coordination with internal engineering and manufacturing departments as well as directly with suppliers to execute effective, creative and smart supply chain strategies to activate some of the world’s most technically advanced facilities and data centers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze data center hardware and processes from a first principles, physics-based approach with focus on mechanical domain.
• Ability to own complex rack-level solutions, system-level design decisions across mechanical, electrical, power, thermal, networking, and software integration domains.
• Lead the integration of Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) principles into data center strategy and architecture, ensuring resilient, high-performing infrastructure that consistently delivers maximum uptime and operational continuity.
• Experience in rack-level solution design and integration, switch/server experience, including compute (CPU-GPU), storage, or networking hardware integration.
• Provide deep technical guidance on rack infrastructure including power distribution units (PDUs), cooling systems, airflow design, and high-density compute integration.
• Apply reliability methods and thermal engineering, mechanical engineering and electronics to design accelerated test plans for design validation, burn-in testing, environmental stress screening (ESS), and ongoing reliability testing (ORT).
• Facilitate and lead design FMEA sessions to assess hardware risks, determine validation test plans and drive reliable design choices.
• Develop hardware qualification criteria, collaborate on functional and reliability requirements, and drive system-level optimization for high-volume installation.
• Direct the supplier process modifications while ultimately responsible for approving first article inspection (FAI) reports, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) reports.
• Collaborate with design, materials, and infrastructure engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of hardware components and drive root cause corrective action with suppliers.
• Support the procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier competencies by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems.
• Create and define supplier technical and quality requirements based on reliability lessons learned to enable continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, proactivity, technical excellence, creativity, self-direction, and courage.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering or related field.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience in data center hardware design, integration, or manufacturing.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of experience focused on hyperscale or large-scale data center development and execution of complex rack solutions.
• Proficiency in statistical data analysis including DOE, significance testing, sample sizes and confidence level using statistical tools such as JMP and Python.
• Working knowledge of failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, CSAM, FIB, X-ray, cross-sectioning and EDX.
• Experience in thermal analysis and data center cooling systems.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position is based in Bastrop, TX or Palo Alto, CA, or Memphis, TN and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel: Up to 30% of work week travel may be required
• Valid driver's license

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.

the company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with the company 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 the company’s Affi­ative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail]