Supplier Development Engineer, Wire Harness & Cables (Starlink)

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.

SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, WIRE HARNESS & CABLES (STARLINK)

Starlink demands a new type of supply chain. We require our suppliers to provide premium quality with rapidly evolving designs at commercial scale volumes. We are actively looking for highly motivated candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and quality tools and have unrelenting motivation to enable suppliers for success. This position requires a combination of proven leadership and technical capabilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Collaborate with design, R&D, commercial supply chain, hardware reliability, and production teams to manage suppliers and deliver world class products for our customers

Support procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier capabilities by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems

Identify, audit, and onboard new suppliers

Develop and implement supplier technical requirements and quality flow downs to meet hardware manufacturing needs

Implement and monitor production part approval process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to enable rate production

Ensure qualification and reliability activities at suppliers are in line with requirements

Develop and approve process controls to control critical characteristics

Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and opportunities for defects

Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends and pinpoint systemic performance gaps to drive supplier improvement plans

Provide feedback to suppliers 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 root cause failure analysis and corrective actions associated with any quality gaps, escapes, or containments

Lead projects and present reports to internal teams, management, and/or suppliers

Act as internal owner of supplier's statistical process control (SPC), yield improvement activities, new tool/process qualification, and performance in terms of quality, efficiency, and cost

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in engineering or STEM related field

1+ year of manufacturing engineering experience in wire harness production and fiber optic manufacturing (internships/co-ops can apply)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience evaluating wire harness manufacturing processes

Experience performing source inspection in wire harness manufacturing suppliers

Experience implementing Control Plans in Wire Harness Manufacturing setting

Familiarity with IPC 620

Experience with driving supplier performance and evaluation. Experience with Statement of Work (SOW), quality clauses, intellectual property (IP), and government regulations such as ITAR, etc..

Working knowledge of product development methodologies such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) elements such as Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA), quality improvement techniques, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

Active or former IPC 610 certification

Advanced degree in engineering, business, or supply chain

Working knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAIR, RCCA failure analysis, lean methods, etc.) and quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)

Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., SPC, design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.