Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer (Starship)

As a Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer at SpaceX, you will be responsible for assessing risks affecting supply chain product quality and performance. You will lead a team, interface with various departments, maintain quality processes, and conduct failure investigations. Moreover, you will be actively involved in promoting and executing quality standards and improving overall operational efficiency.

Candidates applying for the Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer position should possess a Bachelor's degree in engineering and have at least three years of experience in quality systems, quality assurance, or manufacturing. Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9000, and Nadcap standards is preferred. Additionally, those with leadership experience and knowledge of process improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma will have an advantage.

This Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer position requires you to be onsite at SpaceX's Starbase, TX location, as remote work is not considered. The role involves hands-on leadership and collaboration across multiple departments, making onsite presence integral to success.

The expected salary range for a Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer at SpaceX is between $125,000 and $175,000 per year. The specific salary offered will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, and overall job-related knowledge.

The Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer position may require up to 40% travel during the work week, which can include international travel. This travel is essential for performing independent technical field qualifications, supplier audits, and collaborative projects with international partners.

In responding to this question, highlight specific experiences you have with implementing and managing quality systems like AS9100 or ISO 9000. Discuss your direct involvement in audits, process improvements, and how you ensured compliance with quality standards in a supply chain environment.

Explain your approach to identifying and managing non-conforming materials. Detail the containment actions you would take, the importance of root cause analysis, and how you coordinate with teams to prevent recurrence and ensure product quality.

To answer this, discuss your experience in leading teams through effective communication, fostering collaboration, and establishing clear goals. Share examples where you've successfully driven initiatives or completed projects with team buy-in and alignment with company objectives.

Share a specific example of how you identified an opportunity for improvement in a quality process. Describe the steps you took to implement a solution, the results that followed, and how those improvements impacted overall team performance and product quality.

Outline your method for conducting supplier quality investigations, including establishing communication with suppliers, performing assessments, and leading cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues quickly and effectively. Emphasize the importance of follow-up to ensure lasting solutions.

Describe your strategies for communication and collaboration between departments. Highlight methods you use to keep supply chain goals aligned with production requirements, using examples where you led initiatives to streamline both areas.

Discuss your experience using data analysis tools, such as SQL, to monitor quality metrics and supplier performance. Explain how you leverage this data to guide decisions, promote process enhancements, and keep stakeholders informed.

Explain your understanding of Lean and Six Sigma principles and provide examples of how you've applied these methodologies in real-world scenarios to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and enhance product quality.

In your response, share a specific challenge related to quality assurance or supply chain management. Detail the problem, your thought process, the actions taken, and the successful resolution, emphasizing the lessons learned from the experience.

Discuss your beliefs about communication styles, frequency, and tools used to keep your team engaged and informed. Provide examples of how effective communication has led to increased performance and morale within your teams in your past roles.