Sourcing Manager, Electronics; Starshield

Hawthorne, CA

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.

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on three areas:
Earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. Designed to meet diverse mission requirements, Starshield satellites are capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users. With the proven ability to iterate rapidly, SpaceX's unique full-stack approach in developing end-to-end systems, from launch vehicles to user terminals, enables the deployment of capabilities at scale with unprecedented speed. Starshield's proliferated low-Earth orbit architecture provides inherent resiliency and constant connectivity to on-orbit assets, while SpaceX's proven rapid launch capability provides expedient and economical access to space.

As a member of the Starshield Supply Chain team, you will manage sourcing for electronics used on Starshield satellites. Our team moves quickly, and you must too. SpaceX has the unique ability and desire to influence and shape suppliers to be better partners as we challenge our supply chain on cost, quality, and speed of execution.

• Develop and manage the supply base for electronic components required across Starshield satellites
• Work directly with key suppliers to develop and implement sourcing and cost-management strategies that support existing platforms and new product development
• Evaluate demand while placing and managing purchase orders according to demand signals
• Track delivery and supplier delivery performance
• Provide guidance to internal engineering customers on recommended suppliers
• Act as the supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs
• Monitor global industry trends, track technology roadmaps, and partner with design teams to identify and mitigate supply and demand challenges
• Partner with internal resources to drive adoption of low-cost parts and avoidance of obsolescence
• Visit supplier facilities and accurately assess operational capability, financial health, and capacity in order to award contracts in support of new product development and long-term production
• Conduct comprehensive supplier analysis, including strategic direction, capacity, market and industry position, and risk assessment
• Manage costs to ensure alignment with program budgets
• Present value propositions to executives, including those related to contract awards, cost reviews, cost reduction strategies, and critical supply issues
• Work with supply chain engineers to develop requirements for both NPI and production phases
• Negotiate contracts to ensure continuity of supply and protect SpaceX interests

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience working in one or more of the following, or 7+ years of experience working in one or more of the following:
  • Engineering
  • Purchasing
  • Contract negotiation
  • Material or production planning
  • Operations or supply chain management
  • Material cost control
  • Master production scheduling
  • Technical procurement or planning experience with raw material commodities

• 6+ years of procurement experience in direct commodity sourcing
• Technical procurement or planning experience with electronic components, PCBs, or PCBAs
• Experience in new product introduction (NPI) and mass production (MP)
• Experience reading…