Supplier Development Engineer (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 (STARLINK)

SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable. We are looking for talented, creative, and driven engineers to develop, drive, and maintain suppliers, from initial concept development to full scale production.

As a Supplier Development Engineer focused on Final Assembly, Test and Packout for Starlink, you will play a critical role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and scalability of the user terminal manufacturing at our global suppliers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Planning, proposing, and leading experiments to produce timely and accurate analyses used to drive design, development, and supply chain decisions, with a focus on scalability for high volume manufacturing.
• Assessing the suitability of a fabrication technology for a given part design, including its potential for automation and cost-effective mass production.
• Planning validation exercises to demonstrate initial feasibility as well as manufacturing capability at high volumes, incorporating throughput modeling and yield optimization.
• Analyzing results of validation exercises and provide technical recommendations to enhance efficiency and reduce variability in large-scale production.
• Reviewing progress of development activities at supplier locations and serve as point of escalation for critical process related issues, ensuring alignment with high volume ramp-up requirements. 
• Drive process development and capability assessment activities, reviewing part design documentation to ensure alignment with process capability for high volume manufacturing, including DFM principles for scalability and automation.
• Assigns specific tasks and work with SpaceX suppliers to support process development and/or data gathering activities aimed at achieving consistent high throughput and low defect rates. 
• Set clear goals for results and provide timely reviews of performance throughout program, emphasizing metrics for production efficiency and cost per unit.
• Establish validation procedures to figure out acceptance of tooling into development builds as well as mass production, incorporating statistical process controls and capacity planning for high volume output. 
• Review supplier tool design, process flow, equipment selection, DFM, and DOE proposals, with emphasis on their suitability for high volume manufacturing, such as automated lines and rapid cycle times.
• Identify shortfalls and corrective actions to ensure design compliance and scalability to meet production demands.
• Work with supplier engineering teams to map out process development exercises, secure resources, and commit to schedules in line with program goals, including ramp-up plans for high volume output.
• Assess supplier readiness to support build events and production ramp, evaluating infrastructure for sustained high throughput and supply chain resilience.
• Identify potential execution issues and provide recommendations to mitigate risk, focusing on minimizing downtime and optimizing yield in mass production environments. 
• Apply solid understanding of quality control and manufacturing concepts to develop specific Product Quality Plan (PQP) appropriate to program and commodity, tailored for high volume manufacturing with advanced statistical methods and automated inspection.
• Coordinate all Quality Engineering functions for a program, serving as project manager to lead efforts at supplier locations, ensuring robust processes for large-scale production.
• Actively participate in the program planning and monitoring process assuming responsibility for key deliverables at all milestones, including quality gates for volume ramp-up. 
• Provide technical direction and guidance to other Quality Engineers supporting the implementation of the PQP, promoting continuous improvement for high yield operations.
• Assess measurability and creatively address concerns directly with stakeholders, incorporating real-time monitoring tools for high volume lines.
• Identify and direct studies to implement improvements in measuring method where appropriate, such as adopting AI-driven analytics for defect prediction. 
• Establish audit procedures appropriate to program and supplier to ensure adherence to SpaceX quality standards, with frequency scaled for high production volumes.
• Implement FAI and Cp/Cpk reviews of mechanical parts, extending to ongoing process capability monitoring for sustained high volume performance.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in one of the following: supply chain engineering, supplier development/quality, manufacturing, or design engineering.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in PCBA manufacturing.
• Professional experience with SMT processes (e.g., screen printing, pick-and-place, reflow, wave soldering, and inspection).
• Engineering degree in electrical or mechanical engineering.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC), Six Sigma certification, or Lean manufacturing principles applied.
• Proven track record of production ramp-up for high-volume electronics manufacturing, preferably in consumer electronics.
• Strong understanding of PCBA failure modes, defect analysis, and quality control methodologies (e.g., 8D, Fishbone, Pareto, PFMEA, DOE, SPC), with the ability to develop Product Quality Plans (PQP), implement FAI and Cp/Cpk reviews, and establish audit procedures tailored for high production volumes.
• Hands-on experience with failure analysis.
• Experience in analyzing large datasets and dispositioning hardware based on data.
• 5+ years of experience in SMT engineering, including leadership roles in supplier development or process engineering for complex consumer electronics systems and/or 5+ years of experience in Final Assembly, Test and Packout.
• Expertise in advanced SMT technologies, such as fine-pitch components, BGA/CSP assembly, selective soldering, and high-mix/low-volume to high-volume transitions.
• Knowledge of environmental testing and reliability standards for consumer electronics (e.g., vibration, thermal cycling).
• Prior experience in the consumer electronics industry, particularly with high volume hardware assembly.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple suppliers and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position is based in VN and requires being onsite - remote work not considered.
• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to travel: Up to 50% work week travel may be required to suppliers within Vietnam.

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.