SpaceX Lead Supply Chain Reliability Engineer at SpaceX overseeing a team ensuring supplier compliance and quality improvements for Starlink Aviation. Leads inspectors and engineers to drive supplier quality and risk mitigation.
Responsibilities
Lead and mentor a team of hourly inspectors and supplier quality engineers
Foster a culture of accountability, ensuring the team drives suppliers to full awareness and compliance with all quality and drawing requirements while validating that requirements are clear, sensible, and effectively communicated
Oversee the team's hands-on resolution of quality issues, including running containments, screening parts, closing issue tickets, executing engineering dispositions for all nonconforming product, issuing SCARs (Supplier Corrective Action Request), and driving to closure with objective evidence
Generate quality metric reports and analyze historical trends to identify patterns in defects and performance
Leverage insights to initiate targeted improvement projects at suppliers aimed at reducing defects and enhancing overall quality
Update existing procedures or develop new ones to streamline inspections, audits, and quality processes
Conduct and prioritize supplier audits, including onboarding audits for new suppliers and surveillance audits for incumbent ones
Travel to supplier sites as needed to assess compliance and capabilities
Identify, categorize, and mitigate supply chain risks proactively, ensuring robust strategies when issues arise
Fully own preventive and corrective actions. Able to quickly make risk-based decisions
Communicate quality trends and data-driven recommendations to Supplier Development Engineers to influence design changes for improved design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for inspectability (DFI)
Apply root cause analysis tools (e.g., 5 Whys) and methodologies like Six Sigma to drive systemic quality enhancements
Qualification
Bachelor's degree in engineeringExperience leading teams of engineersProficiency in data analysis tools (e
Required
Bachelor's degree in engineering
3+ years of experience in supplier quality engineering, quality assurance, or manufacturing engineering
1+ year of professional experience leading people or projects
Preferred
Experience leading teams of engineers, specialists, and/or inspectors
Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
Expertise in root cause analysis tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, or 8D
Experience leading supplier audits (onboarding and surveillance).
Familiarity with aerospace or high-reliability manufacturing standards (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001).
Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Minitab, PowerBI, SQL) and quality management systems
Extreme attention to detail with a track record of making quick, effective decisions in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
Strong ability to interface and influence at all organizational levels, from shop floor technicians to executive leadership
