Hardware Engineer – Supply Chain Engineering (Dragon & Falcon)

SpaceX demands a new type of supply chain.

We require our suppliers to provide premium quality at increasingly ambitious volumes.

We are actively looking for candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and quality tools and have unrelenting motivation to enable suppliers for success.

This position will support our Dragon & Falcon program and requires a combination of proven leadership and technical capabilities.

This is a highly technical position that requires practical experience in process engineering and new product development through to stabilized production for the various components and assemblies used in rockets and rocket engines.

The ideal candidate will have a broad understanding of materials technologies and hardware components, as well as associated processes with the desire and capability to take on new challenges in unfamiliar areas to help enable our mission to Mars.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as the technical point of contact for purchased bolts, bearings, screws, nuts, springs, etc. solving emergent challenges at suppliers and mitigating risk to the manifest by addressing high-impact manufacturing and quality issues
• Review issues on assigned parts and solve to root cause; implement changes or  corrective and preventative actions at the supplier, at SpaceX, or both, as appropriate; drive further actions to closure; and re-source to new suppliers where appropriate
• Become thoroughly familiar with assigned parts/commodities and the processes that make up the overall assembly and become the primary point of contact for supply chain related defects on your parts/commodities
• Work with procurement to find exceptional suppliers and vet them appropriately for quality and ability to meet our aggressive takt times
• Conduct design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews to ensure parts are manufacturable at early stages, preferably prior to sourcing
• Own the new product introduction (NPI) and First Article processes at a suppliers for new parts, drawing changes, or when re-sourcing existing parts to a new supplier
• Lead containment activities on assigned parts/commodities, working with cross-functional counterparts to agree on scope, path forward and ultimate resolution
• Demonstrate innovation, technical excellence, attention to detail, self-direction and courage
• Drive for results and customer satisfaction by collaborating with teams, leading projects and continuously driving improvement in the supply base

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering
• 2+ years of experience of manufacturing and/or research & development experience in a production environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Familiarity with mechanical testing and properties of materials
• Bachelor’s degree and/or minor or concentration in materials science/engineering, chemical engineering, or metallurgy
• Broad familiarity with application and/or processing of metal products such as tubes, plates, forgings, raw materials, etc.
• Broad familiarity of hardware devices such as fasteners, nuts, screws, springs, etc.
• Broad familiarity with destructive and nondestructive inspection methods and techniques
• Broad familiarity with chemical and manufacturing processes such as machining, forging, heat treatment, surface finishing/coatings, etc.
• Experience with interpreting engineering drawings and models, GD&T, etc
• Experience with aerospace and industry standards and specifications (e.g. ASTM, AMS, NAS, NASA/JSC, etc.)
• Experience with root cause analysis and investigations as well as demonstrated experience with implement corrective/preventative activities
• Knowledge of supplier quality processes (production part approval process, advanced product quality planning, first article inspection reports, etc.)
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., design of experiments, Lean, Six Sigma, etc.
• Disciplined approach to problem solving - 8D
• Proficient in MS Office and Excel applications and report writing
• Proficient in SQL and PowerBI
• Experience with sharing information and influencing others across organizational lines, internally and externally

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work long hours, some nights and/or weekends when needed
• Ability to travel - up to 60-85% work week travel may be required, including international travel
• Valid driver’s license mandatory

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Supply Chain Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year

Supply Chain Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX.

You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks.

You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.