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Sourcing Manager, Server Mechanicals, Cooling (Starlink)

Austin, TX

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.

SOURCING MANAGER, SERVER MECHANICALS, COOLING (STARLINK) 

We are seeking a world-class Sourcing Manager to own end-to-end sourcing strategy, supplier management, and delivery of server-level mechanicals and cooling for SpaceXAI compute and network hardware. In this role you will partner deeply with responsible engineers, thermal engineers, and server mechanical teams to define commodity strategy, craft and optimize statements of work (SOW), aggressively challenge unnecessary specifications and costs, and drive node-level hardware execution at extreme velocity and scale. You will elevate chassis, cold-plate, and thermal-component relationships into true strategic partnerships that deliver unprecedented on-time delivery, quality, cost efficiency, and flexibility while powering SpaceX's record-breaking cluster deployment cadence. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in server mechanicals and component-level cooling, thrives in high-ambiguity/high-velocity environments, and turns the server thermal and mechanical supply base into a core competitive advantage and force multiplier for SpaceX's AI infrastructure leadership.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Partner deeply with responsible engineers, thermal engineers, and server mechanical teams to co-define commodity strategy, multi-year technology roadmaps, and approved vendor lists for server mechanics and cooling — chassis, lids, bezels and GPU/accelerator trays; cold plates (CPU, GPU, HBM, NIC, switch ASIC); heat sinks, vapor chambers and heat pipes; thermal interface materials (grease, pads, PCM); server fans and shrouds; node-level liquid loops (tubing, fittings, on-server manifolds, dripless QDs); and retention hardware (GPU brackets, CPU ILM/backplates, DIMM clips, NIC brackets) — anticipating SpaceXAI TDP and density requirements 12–24 months ahead
  • Own global sourcing end-to-end for server mechanicals and cooling, including supplier selection, qualification of die-cast / stamped chassis, cold-plate, TIM, and fan suppliers, dual/multi-sourcing on constrained thermal SKUs, capacity reservation, and performance governance to achieve on-time delivery and continuous lead-time compression while supporting SpaceX's aggressive cluster build cadence
  • Define and negotiate transformative SOWs and commercial agreements that rigorously challenge unnecessary specifications, drive value engineering of chassis and cold-plate designs, secure aggressive pricing, dedicated tooling and capacity, and flexibility without compromising thermal resistance, leak, and reliability standards required for SpaceX training clusters
  • Drive continuous cost leadership through should-cost modeling of chassis, cold plates, TIM, and fan assemblies; design-for-manufacturability and design-for-serviceability reviews; specification optimization; and long-term pricing agreements that meaningfully reduce total cost of ownership while accelerating time-to-scale
  • Act as the supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs; visit chassis, cold-plate, TIM, and fan factories and accurately assess die-cast, CNC, skiving, bonding, leak-test, TIM compounding, and high-volume fan capability, plus financial health and capacity, before awarding NPI and production contracts
  • Monitor global industry trends in accelerator cooling (direct-to-chip liquid, cold-plate materials, TIM reliability, high-TDP air/hybrid), chassis architecture, and quick-disconnect standards; partner with design teams to identify and mitigate sole-source, allocation, and long-lead tooling risk before it hits NPI or mass production
  • Work with supply chain engineers and thermal engineers to develop requirements for both NPI and production phases; drive second-source strategies for cold plates, TIM, fans, and QDs without compromising thermal performance or serviceability
  • Standardize and automate NPI-to-mass-production processes, implement inventory and WIP optimization models (including consignment and just-in-time tailored to SpaceX's build velocity), and establish clear KPIs for cost, quality, speed, leak/thermal yield, and resilience that are reviewed weekly with leadership
  • Lead supplier innovation programs- challenge and collaborate with vendors on higher-performance cold plates, lower-resistance TIM, quieter/higher-pressure fans, faster service loops, and next-generation node-level liquid cooling that accelerate SpaceX's hardware roadmap and reduce total cost of ownership
  • Present value propositions to executives, including those related to contract award, tooling, cost reviews, and critical server-thermal supply issues
  • Build and maintain a world-class supply base through strategic relationships with chassis ODMs, cold-plate and vapor-chamber specialists, TIM suppliers, fan OEMs, and QD manufacturers; run executive business reviews and performance scorecards that position SpaceX as the preferred high-velocity partner

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 9+ years of experience working in one or more of the following in lieu of a degree:
    • Business
    • Manufacturing
    • Supply Chain
    • Engineering
  • 4+ years of experience in global supply chain, commodity management, or mechanical/thermal sourcing with a focus on server chassis, cold plates, TIM, fans, or node-level liquid cooling

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Deep technical understanding of server mechanicals (chassis, trays, retention hardware) and component-level cooling (cold plates, heat sinks, vapor chambers, TIM, fans, on-server liquid loops and dripless QDs)
  • Proven track record sourcing server mechanical or thermal commodities at hyperscale, at server ODMs, or at cooling-component suppliers (e.g. Aavid/Boyd, CoolIT, Delta, Nidec, 3M/Henkel TIM, QD specialists)
  • Hands-on familiarity with chassis drawings, cold-plate stack-ups, TIM application processes, fan P-Q curves, leak testing, and the difference between server-level vs. rack-level vs. facility-level cooling scope
  • Previous experience at hyperscalers, leading ODMs, Tier-1 CMs, or AI infrastructure companies with aggressive scaling demands
  • Demonstrated success negotiating complex SOWs, challenging specifications and costs, and delivering results in ambiguous, high-velocity environments with extreme timelines and massive scale
  • Experience reading technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawings, BOMs, and related files
  • Strong negotiation, analytical, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Familiarity with commodity management, long-lead tooling, roadmap planning, and approved vendor list processes in a manufacturing context
  • Passion for SpaceX's mission and excitement about enabling the fastest AI infrastructure builds on Earth

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to 25%) to support supplier factories, audits, and critical projects
  • Ability to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major cluster-deployment milestones
  • Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment with rapidly evolving priorities and world-class execution speed
  • This position is based in Austin, TX and requires being onsite — remote work not considered

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.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX 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 SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

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