Supplier Development Engineer, Electrical (Starlink Aviation) - job 1 of 2

As a Supplier Development Engineer, Electrical at SpaceX, you will be tasked with acting as the technical point of contact for suppliers. This role includes solving emergent challenges in manufacturing, conducting design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews, partnering with the procurement team for strategic sourcing, and validating supplier corrective actions. You will manage outsourced parts right from conception to production, ensuring that manufacturing processes meet high standards.

To qualify for the Supplier Development Engineer, Electrical position at SpaceX, candidates need at least a Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related STEM field, along with a minimum of one year of manufacturing or supply chain experience. A deeper knowledge of quality systems, electrical engineering, and experience in a dynamic design environment are highly preferred.

Success in the Supplier Development Engineer role at SpaceX requires a blend of engineering expertise and interpersonal skills. Key skills include the ability to make timely, risk-based decisions, knowledge of manufacturing processes, familiarity with quality standards such as ISO and AS9100, and strong communication abilities. Creative problem-solving skills and a passion for pushing boundaries in aerospace technology are also vital.

A career as a Supplier Development Engineer at SpaceX offers substantial growth potential. Individuals can progress to senior engineering roles or transition into management positions. The exposure to cutting-edge projects and potential mentorship from experienced engineers provides fertile ground for professional development and learning!

Working as a Supplier Development Engineer at SpaceX means being part of a dynamic and fast-paced environment. You will be collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and suppliers, with a focus on innovation and quality improvement. Expect to be challenged daily as you contribute to game-changing technologies in aerospace engineering.

When responding, highlight specific projects where you conducted DFM reviews. Discuss how you assessed manufacturability, identified potential production issues early, and collaborated with design teams to make necessary adjustments. Use concrete examples to illustrate your problem-solving abilities and engineering knowledge.

You should explain your approach to evaluating supplier quality systems, discussing standards like ISO 9000 or AS9100. Mention specific tools or methodologies you’ve employed, such as audits, process reviews, or performance metrics to ensure suppliers meet their commitments and quality expectations.

Emphasize your communication and negotiation skills. Describe a specific instance where you effectively resolved a conflict, focusing on your collaborative approach, clear communication, and problem-solving techniques to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.

Discuss any formal training you have with Lean or Six Sigma methodologies and then provide examples of how you have applied these principles to improve processes in past roles. Detail specific metrics or results achieved, reinforcing your understanding of continuous improvement.

Present a detailed example that illustrates your analytical and technical skills. Discuss the nature of the problem, the approach you took to analyze it, the solution you implemented, and the outcome. Highlight how effective teamwork, communication, and innovative thinking played a role in your success.

Outline your process for assessing new suppliers, including how you evaluate their capabilities, conduct DFM reviews, and implement the production part approval process (PPAP). Emphasize the importance of collaboration with procurement and engineering teams to ensure smooth integration into the supply chain.

Discuss your approach to evaluating risks and making decisions under tight deadlines. Explain how you balance data-driven analysis with intuition and experience, and provide examples where your decision-making led to successful project outcomes or mitigated potential issues.

Highlight your communication strategies, such as regular check-ins, updates, and using collaborative tools to share information. Include examples of successful projects where strong communication fostered teamwork and led to successful outcomes in managing supplier relationships.

Share your experience with NPIs and the role you played, focusing on key phases such as planning, execution, and evaluation. Discuss how you ensured alignment between engineering, procurement, and suppliers during the NPI process to drive success and timely delivery.

Detail your organizational strategies for handling multiple priorities simultaneously. Explain how you assess the impact of each issue on the manufacturing process and use this assessment to establish a prioritized action plan that minimizes disruption and ensures quality.