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. SUPPLY CHAIN QUALITY ENGINEER (LAUNCH)

The supply chain team is responsible for the sourcing, planning, procurement, warehousing, and transportation of all raw materials and components needed to build our revolutionary spacecraft and launch vehicles. Our mission is to get the right part in the right place at the right time, every time.

The supply chain quality engineering team is chartered with global quality surveillance of the supply base, reducing supply chain risk through external evaluations and internal risk reviews, leading failure investigations and proactively driving source qualification activities.

As a supply chain quality engineer at Cape Canaveral, you manage and lead cross functional risk activities to meet technical, production, and regulatory requirements at the point of qualification and throughout the supplier’s lifecycle. You would perform source qualification events and approve new capabilities at suppliers. You would be responsible for monitoring for known and unknown supplier flight risk and driving failure investigations to resolve issues immediately and effectively. As supplier surveillance activities deal with suppliers that support all areas of SpaceX, you would build an extensive network within materials and processing, build reliability, production, supply chain management, and a deep understanding of SpaceX systems and processes. This experience would enable you to become a critical voice in the development of group and company strategy.

To be successful, you will need:

• A deep technical and practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and standards
• The capability to project manage and drive accountability within cross functional teams, succinctly communicate status and needed action, often urgently, to all levels of the organization
• A willingness to roll up your sleeves and step into chaotic situations, using technical knowledge and quality background to understand the current state and most optimal path forward
• The ability to analyze for and identify suboptimal supplier and internal system process gaps and drive improvement through data driven decisions
• The ability to conduct formal and informal supplier evaluations, corrective actions, and process reviews
• Ability to engage counterparts across the organization and develop/build trust in order to effectively execute large scale initiatives
• An ability to acquire new technical knowledge, particularly around how purchased components and assemblies integrate into the rocket and spacecraft

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead cross-functional project teams to enact and correct systematic problems
• Develop new quality processes/programs that will support launch cadence at the Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg, CA
• Improve upon existing tooling and ground support equipment protocols and procedures
• Improve upon existing quality management systems to support current launch manifest
• Work hand in hand with launch teams to better understand RCCA and drive them upstream at the supplier
• Manage containments and potential improvements in order to improve efficiency of screening, quarantine and closures
• Lead flight and launch readiness reviews
• Audit internal supply chain groups in order to help identify gaps and risks
• Proactively perform independent technical field qualification and verification of supplier capabilities and ongoing reliability. Execute corrective actions as a result of audit
• Monitor and assess supplier capabilities for unknown flight risk and work to resolve issues. Assess changes in supplier processes and asses for cross-functional impacts. Run risk review activities, including performing and organizing data reviews and executing mitigation plans
• Lead cross functional supplier quality investigations (probationary reviews). Coordinate root-cause analysis, failure resolution and follow-up actions to avoid further mishaps. Author and edit quality alerts for regulatory and customer
• Work directly with engineering and materials teams to develop and install new process qualification requirements
• Review acceptance and qualification of new capabilities at suppliers. Ensure reliability and maintainability of modified capabilities through a risk-based re-qualification program
• Perform early supplier failure detection and warning analysis
• Maintain holistic supply chain capabilities knowledge and work with cross-functional teams to drive improved verification and changes for improved reliability

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Knowledge and mastery of principles of chemistry, engineering, fluid dynamics and mechanics of materials
• Ability to quickly grasp knowledge of a diverse range of supplier capabilities
• Practical experience in requirement and specification development
• Capable of seeking and solving complex problem and organizing it in a manner that helps decision-making
• Demonstrated experience in leading or working on a multi-disciplinary engineering problem
• Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/AS9100/NADCAP/TS)
• Certified auditor to ISO9001/AS9100/NADCAP/TS
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg
• Position may involve long hours and weekend work as needed
• Ability to travel; up to 25% of work week travel could occur

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:          

Sr. Supply Chain Quality Engineer: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/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. 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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.