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, SMT (STARLINK)
SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable. We are looking for talented, creative, and driven engineers to develop, drive, and maintain suppliers, from initial concept development to full scale production.
As a Supplier Development Engineer focused on Surface Mount Technology (SMT) for Starlink, you will play a critical role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and scalability of PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) manufacturing at our global suppliers. You will lead New Product Introduction (NPI) efforts, drive process improvements, and manage the ramp-up of SMT production lines to meet SpaceX's high-volume demands. This position requires deep technical expertise in SMT processes, hands-on experience with PCBA manufacturing, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers worldwide. Based in Bastrop, Texas, you will report to the Supplier Development Engineering team lead and contribute to the rapid iteration and production scaling of Starlink hardware.
RESPONSIBILITES:
- Lead supplier qualification, development, and ongoing performance management for SMT and PCBA manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with SpaceX quality standards and production timelines.
- Drive NPI activities for new SMT lines, including process validation, equipment selection, and yield optimization at supplier facilities around the world.
- Identify and resolve manufacturing defects, process inefficiencies, and quality issues in SMT assembly, such as solder paste application, component placement, reflow soldering, and automated optical inspection (AOI).
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for production failures, utilizing tools like PFMEA, DOE, and SPC to improve process capability and reduce defects per million opportunities (DPMO).
- Collaborate with SpaceX design, manufacturing, and quality teams to incorporate DFM/DFA feedback into supplier processes
- Travel to supplier sites (up to 50%) to audit facilities, oversee ramp-ups, and provide on-site technical support for high-volume SMT production.
- Develop and maintain supplier scorecards, KPIs, and continuous improvement plans focused on cost reduction, yield enhancement, and supply chain resilience.
- Support the transition from prototype to mass production, including capacity planning, equipment upgrades, and automation integration for SMT lines.
- Ensure adherence to industry standards (e.g., IPC-A-610, J-STD-001) and SpaceX-specific requirements for mission-critical electronics.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field.
- 2+ years of experience in PCBA manufacturing, with a focus on SMT processes (e.g., screen printing, pick-and-place, reflow, wave soldering, and inspection).
- Hands-on experience with SMT equipment from manufacturers such as Fuji, Panasonic, DEK, or similar, including programming, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years of experience in SMT engineering, including leadership roles in supplier development or process engineering for complex consumer electronics systems.
- Expertise in advanced SMT technologies, such as fine-pitch components, BGA/CSP assembly, selective soldering, and high-mix/low-volume to high-volume transitions.
- Experience with statistical process control (SPC), Six Sigma certification, or Lean manufacturing principles applied to SMT environments.
- Knowledge of environmental testing and reliability standards for consumer electronics (e.g., vibration, thermal cycling).
- Prior experience in the consumer electronics industry, particularly with high volume hardware assembly.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple suppliers and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven track record in NPI and production ramp-up for high-volume electronics manufacturing, preferably in consumer electronics.
- Strong understanding of PCBA failure modes, defect analysis, and quality control methodologies (e.g., 8D, Fishbone, Pareto).
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Position is based in Bastrop, TX 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 50% 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.
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 in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field.
- At least 2 years of experience in PCBA manufacturing focused on SMT processes.
- Hands-on experience with SMT equipment such as Fuji, Panasonic, DEK, or similar, including programming, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- At least 5 years of SMT engineering experience, preferably including supplier development or process engineering leadership.
- Expertise with fine-pitch components, BGA/CSP assembly, selective soldering, and production-volume transitions.
- Experience with SPC, Six Sigma, or Lean manufacturing in SMT environments.
- Knowledge of environmental testing and consumer electronics reliability standards.
- Prior high-volume consumer electronics hardware assembly experience.
- Strong project management skills for managing multiple suppliers and projects.
- Proven NPI and high-volume electronics production ramp-up experience.
- Strong understanding of PCBA failure modes, defect analysis, and quality methodologies including 8D, Fishbone, and Pareto.
- Willingness to work onsite in Bastrop, Texas; remote work is not considered.
- Willingness to work long hours and weekends when needed.
- Ability to travel up to 50% of the work week.
- Valid driver's license.
- Must meet applicable ITAR authorization requirements, including U.S. citizenship, nationality, lawful permanent residence, refugee or asylee status, or eligibility for required authorizations.
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.
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