Sr. Supplier Development Engineer (Starshield)

United States Digital Space LLC; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking a Sr. Supplier Development Engineer in Hawthorne, California. This role involves managing the supply chain for Starshield satellites, ensuring procurement, logistics, and supplier quality while collaborating with engineering teams.

The ideal candidate has a background in electrical or mechanical engineering with significant experience in PCBA manufacturing. The role requires strong communication and technical skills to drive supplier improvements and production efficiency.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in PCBA manufacturing or related fields.
• Experience in a manufacturing, reliability or design engineering role.

Responsibilities

• Manage the demand plan and sourcing for hardware.
• Collaborate with design engineers to understand product design.
• Drive supplier corrective actions.

Skills

Knowledge of supplier quality processes

Knowledge of statistical techniques

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

PCBA manufacturing expertise

Knowledge of ISO standards

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 (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages the company's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on three areas: Earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. Designed to meet diverse mission requirements, Starshield satellites are capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users. With the proven ability to iterate rapidly, the company's unique full-stack approach in developing end-to-end systems, from launch vehicles to user terminals, enables the deployment of capabilities at scale with unprecedented speed. Starshield's proliferated low-Earth orbit architecture provides inherent resiliency and constant connectivity to on-orbit assets, while the company's proven rapid launch capability provides expedient and economical access to space.

As a member of the Starshield Supply Chain team you will manage the demand plan and sourcing for hardware used on, and in the making of, the Starshield satellite constellation. Our team moves quickly and you must too. the company 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. The functions within the department include procurement, planning and fulfillment, supplier development and quality, logistics and inventory. This roles scope will help enable production rates in the satellite factory of the future!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own and manage PCBA processes and PCBA products for the Starshield supply chain
• Own continuity of supply for electronic products on the Starshield program, ensuring internal production has infeed assemblies needed to build to program level volume targets
• Collaborate with design engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of piece part, assembly, and/or sub-system design intent
• 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 requirements and flow downs to meet hardware manufacturing needs
• Implement and monitor the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to enable rate production
• Assure supplier understanding of product and submission requirements
• Develop and approve process controls to control critical characteristics
• Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends and pinpoint systemic performance gaps and root causes to drive supplier improvement plans
• Provide feedback as appropriate on manufacturing methods, with a specific focus on eliminating costs, reducing cycle times, and increasing yields
• Function as liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to resolve supplier quality issues and to provide technical support
• Drive supplier corrective actions associated with any escapes or containments identified in Production and Supply Chain
• Collaborate with teams, lead projects, and continuously drive improvement in the supply base with a focus on reductions in cycle time, nominal cost, and cumulative scrap

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, material science engineering, hardware engineering, engineering physics, or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience in PCBA manufacturing, SMT processing and/or microelectronics packaging either from industry, research, or academic projects
• 5+ years in a manufacturing, reliability, and/or design engineering role (student project team or internship experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of supplier quality processes (production part approval process, advanced product quality planning, first article inspection reports, etc.)
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.
• Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• Knowledge pf IPC manufacturing standards
• Knowledge of lean concepts
• Experience with basic failure analysis tools and methods (X-ray, cross-section, polishing)
• Experience with sharing information and influencing others across organizational lines, internally and externally
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to make presentations to suppliers, team members, and management
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Role is in office and located in Hawthorne, CA
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive the company missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol
• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel: Up to 25-60% work week travel may be required
• Valid driver’s license

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay range: Sr. Supplier Development Engineer: $130,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year

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 the company. 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 accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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.

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.