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.
SOURCING SPECIALIST (STARLINK)
SpaceX is on a fast track to becoming the market leader in various product categories like US-based human spaceflight, rapid vehicle reusability, internet services through the Starlink constellation, and other exciting projects. The SpaceX Supply Chain Department is a critical player in our operations. To capitalize on SpaceX’s technological and market-changing successes, our team will be part of managing an agile yet robust supply chain that will enable a competitive advantage for the company. The functions within the department include procurement, planning and fulfillment, supplier development and quality, logistics, and inventory. SpaceX's Supply Chain will play a key role in enabling SpaceX to meet these ambitious growth targets and greatly contribute to making us a multi-planetary species.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct comprehensive supplier analysis to formulate a strategic sourcing plan that identifies new/suitable suppliers, optimizes cost structures, and proactively ensures continuity of supply based on macro market or industry trends. Manage the supply base by implementing a precise supplier stratification model and executing a documented supplier management playbook
- Ensure the health of the supply base by evaluating and selecting suppliers based on capability, quality, reliability, and price competitiveness. Ensure supplier meets all critical measures of performance consistently by consistently executing an operating plan with clear goals and control plans
- Analyze supplier operations to assess technical capability, equipment, and capacity for rapid deployment of new product development and long-term production to implement a successful E2E product life cycle management strategy and process
- Direct and execute initiatives that support aggressive improvements in supplier quality, total cost effectiveness, enhanced service levels, improved coordination, delivery, pricing, lead times, payment, risk compliance, and other areas as identified
- Develop supplier scorecard to measure supplier performance against agreed-upon key performance indicators; tracks compliance and supports formal management reporting to director and other members of senior management. Benchmark, track, and analyze annual performance metrics and sourcing trends against monthly budget to demonstrate continuous improvement and progress against strategic objectives
- Develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders, understanding their needs and consulting with them to build quality procurement strategies aligned with business requirements
- Be the voice of reason and push engineering to make sound design decisions that are conducive to a high-performing supply plan
- Coordinate with engineering and quality organizations to determine the cause of rejected material and to drive appropriate changes to ensure the elimination/reduction of those quality issues
- Administer moderate to large contracts and independently negotiate with supplier’s contract terminology, pricing, technical requirements, scope, and terms involving responsibility, liability, indemnification, intellectual property, and export compliance
- Execute purchasing transactions within the scope area by issuing purchase orders for SpaceX programs and ensuring delivery. Manage all relevant master data in MRP to ensure accurate and complete information at all times
- Consult and advise buyers and planners on strategies and tactics to ensure their success and development. Provide high-level oversight and support to ensure operational success in tactical procurement execution
- Conduct director-level supply base health and performance scorecard and ensure executive support for the supply base management plan
- Procure connectors, components, and cable/harness via material requirements planning (MRP)
- Keep up with electronic market component trends while developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with major component distributors and manufactures
- Source, support, and drive alternate component qualification through engineering and quality teams
- Coordinate and drive alignment between SpaceX's future designs and preferred supplier technology road maps
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 6+ 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
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 2+ years of technical procurement experience in electronics, connector, and harness sourcing
- Knowledge of wire, connector, harness assembly
- Experience in product development (EVT), new product introduction (NPI) and mass production (MP)
- Material management and CTB (Clear to Build) proficiency
- Knowledge of and established relationships with franchised distributors and components manufacturers
- Strong understanding of the cable/connector market, trends, technology leaders, and current pricing trends in the market
- Experience reading drawings and blueprints
- Technical knowledge in a commodity (e.g. composites raw material, composite component manufacturing, machining, avionics, soft goods etc.)
- Experience in sourcing from a global supply base using various contractual models
- Proven success working on cross-functional new product introduction projects, completing cost models, and negotiating
- Familiarity with ERP systems and purchasing/planning functions
- Exceptional written, verbal and presentation communication skills
- Ability to identify and resolve technical, operational and organizational problems
- Detail-oriented, self-motivated and able to respond quickly to a fast-moving and ever-changing environment
- Ability to conduct all activities with the highest of integrity
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
- Ability to travel up to 50%
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 [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of experience in engineering, purchasing, contract negotiation, material or production planning, operations or supply chain management, material cost control, or master production scheduling
- Alternatively, 6+ years of relevant experience in the listed fields
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Ability to travel up to 50%
- U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, refugee/asylee status, or eligibility to obtain required ITAR authorizations
- Technical procurement experience in electronics, connectors, and harness sourcing
- Knowledge of wire, connector, and harness assembly
- Experience with EVT, NPI, and mass production
- Material management and Clear to Build proficiency
- Relationships with franchised distributors and component manufacturers
- Understanding of cable and connector markets, trends, technology leaders, and pricing
- Experience reading drawings and blueprints
- Technical knowledge in a relevant commodity
- Experience sourcing from a global supply base using various contractual models
- Cross-functional new product introduction experience, cost modeling, and negotiation success
- Familiarity with ERP systems and purchasing or planning functions
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
- Ability to identify and resolve technical, operational, and organizational problems
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
