Sr. Sourcing Specialist, Mechanical (Starship)

As a Sr. Sourcing Specialist at SpaceX, you'll manage the procurement of vital valve components for the Starship program. Your responsibilities will include quoting, negotiating, and placing purchase orders to ensure alignment with technical specifications and delivery schedules, all while tracking supplier performance metrics in a fast-paced environment.

The Sr. Sourcing Specialist role at SpaceX requires either an advanced degree or a bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of experience in areas like engineering, supply chain, purchasing, or operations management. Alternatively, 6+ years of relevant experience can also qualify you for this exciting position.

The Sr. Sourcing Specialist at SpaceX is responsible for managing sourcing activities for precision machined components, negotiating orders, forecasting demand, and ensuring supplier performance metrics are met. You'll also interpret engineering drawings and communicate effectively with suppliers to adapt to design changes quickly.

At SpaceX, career growth is encouraged through continuous learning and opportunities for professional development. As a Sr. Sourcing Specialist, you’ll be empowered to take initiative and solve complex problems, which fosters your growth and allows you to make a significant impact in the field of space exploration.

The work environment at SpaceX for a Sr. Sourcing Specialist is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring collaboration with both internal teams and external suppliers. You'll need to be adaptable and proactive, able to manage multiple projects while ensuring that material needs are met in the ever-evolving landscape of space travel.

In your answer, highlight specific procurement strategies you've successfully implemented, detailing how you ensured alignment with technical specifications and managed supplier relationships to achieve successful outcomes.

Discuss your approach to effectively communicate changes with suppliers and internal teams, and provide examples of how you've minimized downtime and streamlined procurement processes during transitions.

Employ examples from your past experience where your forecasting led to improved supplier performance or cost savings, highlighting your ability to analyze data effectively and make informed decisions.

Share a specific situation where you successfully negotiated a favorable contract, emphasizing your analytical skills, negotiation techniques, and the positive impacts of your negotiation on project timelines or costs.

Discuss the processes you follow to evaluate suppliers and the criteria you establish for quality assurance during the sourcing process, including how you interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.

Mention your experience with specific ERP systems, focusing on how they helped you manage bill of materials, work orders, and purchase orders efficiently, ultimately supporting your overall sourcing goals.

Explain your communication practices and collaboration efforts that enable you to build strong relationships, sharing examples of how these interactions have resulted in successful project outcomes.

Provide insight into the key metrics you focus on, the tools or methods employed for analysis, and how this analysis informs your sourcing decisions and supplier management approach.

Illustrate your organizational skills and techniques for prioritization, detailing how you balance urgency and importance in a fast-moving environment to meet critical deadlines effectively.

Share your passion for the space industry and your admiration for SpaceX's mission, emphasizing your alignment with the company's goals and your eagerness to contribute to innovations in space travel.