Supplier Development Engineer: Materials & Special Processes

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Materials & Special Processes in Hawthorne, CA, to manage outsourced special processes for Falcon & Dragon programs. You will act as the technical point of contact, drive PPAP, NPI, and DFM reviews, and lead supplier improvements.

A background in aerospace consumables and processes is preferred. The role requires travel up to 40–50%, onsite work in Hawthorne, and the ability to coordinate cross-functionally to meet ambitious milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role (including school projects, clubs, or internships).
• Experience in special processes such as thin film coatings, thermal spray coatings, chemical processing, plating, thermal protection systems and/or similar products/processes.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical point of contact for outsourced specials processes and consumables such as paints, adhesives, and chemicals.
• Review issues on assigned parts and solve to the root cause, implementing changes at the supplier or SpaceX.
• Create and disposition issue tickets, working with engineering counterparts to implement re-work or repair.
• Become thoroughly familiar with assigned products and processes and be the primary contact for supply chain defects.
• Work with procurement to find exceptional suppliers and vet them for quality and takt times.
• Conduct design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews to ensure manufacturability early.
• Own the new product introduction (NPI) process at a supplier for new parts and drawings.
• Drive the PPAP program to ensure stable supply and reduce inspection oversight.
• Demonstrate innovation, technical excellence, attention to detail, self-direction and courage.
• Drive for results and customer satisfaction by leading projects and continuous improvement.

Skills

Consumables experience

Lab testing familiarity

GD&T interpretation

Supplier quality processes

DOE/Lean/Six Sigma

8D problem solving

MS Office & Excel

SQL

Lean concepts

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

MS Office

Excel

SQL

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Materials & Special Processes in Hawthorne, CA, to manage outsourced special processes for Falcon & Dragon programs. You will act as the technical point of contact, drive PPAP, NPI, and DFM reviews, and lead supplier improvements.

A background in aerospace consumables and processes is preferred. The role requires travel up to 40–50%, onsite work in Hawthorne, and the ability to coordinate cross-functionally to meet ambitious milestones.