Manager, Manufacturing Engineering (Starlink PCBA)

The Manager, Manufacturing Engineering for Starlink PCBA at SpaceX is responsible for leading a team of engineers and specialists across production shifts. You’ll oversee the manufacturing processes, ensuring that PCBA production meets the highest safety, quality, and throughput rates. Additionally, this role involves equipment selection, facilities planning, staffing, and mentoring your team to solve dynamic production challenges.

To qualify for the Manager, Manufacturing Engineering position at SpaceX, candidates need an advanced degree with at least 2 years of experience, or a bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of relevant experience, or 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, or operations. Direct leadership experience of at least 2 years is also essential for this role.

The Manager, Manufacturing Engineering at SpaceX plays a crucial role in driving continuous improvements in the production process for Starlink PCBA. This includes managing the entire product lifecycle, implementing efficient processes for high-volume throughput, and collaborating with engineering to enhance manufacturability and testing capabilities, all while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Preferred skills for the Manager, Manufacturing Engineering role at SpaceX include significant experience in a manufacturing leadership role, strong problem-solving capabilities, and a deep understanding of electronics assembly processes. Experience with automation, and transitioning products from design to high-volume manufacturing is also highly valued.

A Manager, Manufacturing Engineering at SpaceX can expect a dynamic and innovative work environment where collaboration and adaptability are key. You’ll be working closely with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced setting, with the opportunity to implement your ideas and lead strategic initiatives that positively impact the production of essential technologies.

In answering this question, be sure to highlight specific experiences you've had in manufacturing engineering, especially in high-volume settings like electronics assembly. Discuss your familiarity with SMT lines, production throughput, team leadership, and techniques you’ve employed to improve efficiency.

When addressing this question, talk about the strategies you’ve implemented to prioritize safety. Mention training programs, on-the-floor inspections, and how you foster a culture of safety among your team to ensure compliance with all safety protocols.

Here, you should provide a specific example where you identified a bottleneck or inefficiency in a manufacturing process. Detail the steps you took to analyze the problem, the solutions you implemented, and the measurable results that followed these changes.

Discuss your leadership philosophy, emphasizing mentorship, setting clear expectations, and how you encourage professional growth within your team. Provide examples of how you've developed engineers or specialists under your guidance to enhance their skills and careers.

Focus on the importance of collaboration and communication. Talk about strategies you use to align engineering design with production capabilities and how you ensure all teams work towards shared objectives to meet production schedules and quality benchmarks.

Speak about your views on automation in manufacturing and how it can streamline processes, increase efficiency, and reduce error rates. Provide examples of automation tools you've worked with, and any specific experiences related to implementing these tools.

Provide insights into techniques you've employed to reduce costs without compromising quality. Discuss Lean manufacturing principles, process optimization, and any successful initiatives or projects that led to significant cost savings.

Here, you should describe your approach to prioritizing tasks, managing resources effectively, and communicating with your team to meet tight deadlines. Share experiences where you successfully navigated time-sensitive situations.

Discuss how having a strong understanding of DFM principles allows manufacturers to foresee potential issues during the design phase, and how you've applied these principles in past projects to ease the transition from design to production smoothly.

Focus on key metrics such as quality, delivery, efficiency, and production cost. Explain how you measure and evaluate these metrics in your role, and provide examples of how you have used data to drive improvements and decision-making.