Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Hawthorne, CA
Salary
$100,000–$115,000 / yr
Posted
today

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $150k
This role $108k
$91k most similar roles pay here $180k

This role pays less than 85% of similar roles. Most pay $131,000–$170,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $108k versus about $150k for comparable roles.

Based on 238 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 604 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$155,000 across 440 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Starshield)

The Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Starshield) is a senior-level role within the Starshield team at Hawthorne, CA, focusing on enabling efficient production flows for satellites and ground station systems. This position involves collaborating with internal engineering teams and suppliers to enhance quality, cost, delivery, and capacity metrics through strategic sourcing and supplier management. Key responsibilities include defining technical requirements, conducting root cause analysis for quality issues, and implementing the production part approval process (PPAP). The ideal candidate will have experience in manufacturing or process engineering, a strong background in project ownership, and the ability to negotiate effectively while ensuring compliance with ITAR regulations. Proficiency in CAD software, knowledge of ISO standards, and expertise in supply chain management are essential for this role, which demands frequent travel and flexible working hours to meet critical deadlines.

What you'll do

  • Improve quality, cost, delivery, and capacity metrics for mechanical hardware.
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to understand design intent and manufacturing processes.
  • Develop technical and quality requirements for new product introduction phases.
  • Lead resolution of supplier quality issues through root cause analysis.
  • Implement and monitor the production part approval process (PPAP) with suppliers.
  • Identify potential new suppliers and capabilities in manufacturing and metrology.

What we're looking for

  • 1+ years of experience in manufacturing or process engineering, or equivalent internship experience
  • Proven ability to take ownership and drive cost reduction projects successfully
  • Strong negotiation skills and influence over engineering teams to achieve results
  • Capability to obtain U.S. government top secret clearance
  • Experience with supplier technical requirements creation based on customer needs
  • Expertise in implementing and monitoring production part approval processes (PPAP)
  • Willingness to travel up to 60% for work-related activities

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