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Sr. Supplier Development Engineer, Data Center (Starlink) - Memphis

SpaceX · Memphis, TN

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Level
Senior
Team
Quality
Travel
30%
Degree
Required
Experience asked
2+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior quality role at SpaceX (aerospace & defense) in Memphis, TN. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.

They ask for
2+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Root cause, FMEA, PPAP, DOE, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Day to day
about 30% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Quality Engineer roles in Tennessee: typical posted base $80k–$120k.

Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 24 quality engineer openings in Tennessee, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Tennessee plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 23 other live quality postings in Tennessee.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $80k–$120k, from 8 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Root cause 50%
  • Lean 38%
  • ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 38%
  • Supplier quality 33%
  • Team leadership 33%
  • SPC 29%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Python, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 2+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at SpaceX

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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.

  3. 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?
    • The posting says about 30% travel. Between which sites?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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 Memphis

1 other open role at this site.

Full description from SpaceXAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

  • ◆Analyze data center hardware and processes from a first principles, physics-based approach with focus on data center hardware domain.
  • ◆Ability to own complex rack-level solutions, system-level design decisions across mechanical, electrical, power, thermal, networking, and software integration domains.
  • ◆Lead the integration of Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) principles into data center strategy and architecture, ensuring resilient, high-performing infrastructure that consistently delivers maximum uptime and operational continuity.
  • ◆Experience in rack-level solution design and integration, switch/server experience, including compute (CPU-GPU), storage, or networking hardware integration.
  • ◆Provide deep technical guidance on rack infrastructure including power distribution units (PDUs), cooling systems, airflow design, and high-density compute integration.
  • ◆Apply reliability methods and thermal engineering, mechanical engineering and electronics to design accelerated test plans for design validation, burn-in testing, environmental stress screening (ESS), and ongoing reliability testing (ORT).
  • ◆Facilitate and lead design FMEA sessions to assess hardware risks, determine validation test plans and drive reliable design choices.
  • ◆Develop hardware qualification criteria, collaborate on functional and reliability requirements, and drive system-level optimization for high-volume installation.
  • ◆Direct the supplier process modifications while ultimately responsible for approving first article inspection (FAI) reports, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) reports.
  • ◆Collaborate with design, materials, and infrastructure engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of hardware components and drive root cause corrective action with suppliers.
  • ◆Support the procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier competencies by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems.
  • ◆Create and define supplier technical and quality

requirements

based on reliability lessons learned to enable continuous improvement.

  • ✓Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, proactivity, technical excellence, creativity, self-direction, and courage.

Qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering or related field.
  • ✓Minimum 2+ years of experience in data center hardware design, integration, or manufacturing.

Preferred skills and experience

  • ✓Master's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering or related field.
  • ✓7+ years of experience focused on hyperscale or large-scale data center development and execution of complex rack solutions.
  • ✓Proficiency in statistical data analysis including DOE, significance testing, sample sizes and confidence level using statistical tools such as JMP and Python.
  • ✓Working knowledge of failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, CSAM, FIB, X-ray, cross-sectioning and EDX.
  • ✓Experience in thermal analysis and data center cooling systems.

Requirements

  • ✓Position is based in Bastrop, TX or Memphis, TN or Palo Alto, CA, and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
  • ✓Must be willing to work long hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
  • ✓Ability to travel: Up to 30% of work week travel may be required
  • ✓Valid driver's license

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 .

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 .

Show full description ↓

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.

Sr. supplier development engineer, data center (starlink) - memphis

SpaceX is on mission to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. We are looking for talented, creative, and driven data center engineers to develop, drive, and maintain suppliers, from initial concept development to full scale production.

This is a high-profile, cross functional position that plays an integral role in enabling development and production of data centers. You will work in close coordination with internal engineering and manufacturing departments as well as directly with suppliers to execute effective, creative and smart supply chain strategies to activate some of the world’s most technically advanced facilities and data centers.

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