Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Starlink Aviation)
SpaceX · Woodinville, WA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $100k–$115k
- Travel
- 40%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 1+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Woodinville, WA.
- They ask for
- 1+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Root cause, SPC, FMEA, PPAP, APQP
- Base pay
- $100k–$115k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 40% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 16 other live quality postings in Washington.
- Base pay
- About 9% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (1+ vs 3+)
Typical $100k–$135k, from 14 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 100%
- ✓ Lean 88%
- Six Sigma 71%
- ✓ New product launch 65%
- ✓ PPAP 59%
- ✓ SPC 53%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at SpaceX
We found 9 people at this company and state: 6 on the team, 2 leaders, 1 recruiters. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Robin → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 40% travel. Between which sites?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: SpaceX in Woodinville
4 other open roles at this site · 9 people we found on the quality team.
- Sr. Hardware Reliability Engineer (Starlink Aviation) · Reliability · Senior
- Operations Engineer (Starlink Aviation) · Production
- Supplier Development Engineer, Electrical (Starlink Aviation) · Quality
- Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer (Starlink) · Reliability · Manager
Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Act as the technical point of contact, solving emergent challenges at suppliers and mitigating risk to the manufacturing system by addressing high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges
- ◆Own outsourced parts from cradle to grave by conducting design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews to ensure manufacturability, industrializing processes, implementing the production part approval process (PPAP), and ramping suppliers to meet required production rates
- ◆Partner with procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier competencies by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems
- ◆Provide leadership for New Product Introduction (NPI) at suppliers
- ◆Validate supplier corrective actions to ensure they are robust, sustainable, and implemented for similar potential concerns across manufacturing lines and/or suppliers
- ◆Lead containment activities, working with cross-functional counterparts 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
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a STEM discipline
- ✓1+ years of manufacturing, supply chain, or quality experience (collegiate extracurricular engineering projects such as lab projects, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly team, competitions, or internships qualify)
Preferred skills and experience
- ✓Ability to consistently make timely risk-based decisions in an ambiguous environment
- ✓Master's degree in engineering or business
- ✓Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
- ✓Knowledge of quality processes - production part approval process (PPAP), advanced product quality planning (APQP), first article inspection reports (FAIR), metrology tools and concepts
- ✓Knowledge of manufacturing processes and demonstrated history of implementing new production lines and process improvements
- ✓Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem-solving approaches
- ✓Experience with sharing information and influencing others across organizational lines, internally and externally
- ✓Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to make presentations to suppliers, team members and management and to communicate and direct supplier activities at the management level
- ✓Demonstrated capability to think creatively and solve complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
- ✓Experience in a fast-paced, iterative design environment within the consumer electronics, mobile handset, medical devices, marine, aerospace, or automotive industries
Requirements
- ✓Ability to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
- ✓This role is based in Woodinville, WA and must be onsite. Remote work will not be considered
- ✓Ability to travel up to 40%, possibly on short notice
- ✓Valid Washington State driver’s license
requirements
of the law.
ITAR
Requirements
- ✓To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, ap
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
Supplier development engineer, mechanical (starlink aviation)
SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 10M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact. As we continue to upgrade and expand the constellation, we’re looking for best-in-class engineers to join the team.
This is a technical position that requires practical experience with the materials, processes and parts used in mechanical assemblies for the aviation industry. The ideal candidate will have a broad understanding of these products with the desire and capability to take on new challenges in unfamiliar areas to help enable our mission to Mars.
Pay range
Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/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 and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use