SpaceX · 1 day ago
Sourcing Manager (Starship)
SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. The Sourcing Manager for Starship will be responsible for developing the supply base, cost strategy, and sourcing plan to support the scaling of Starship production, ensuring effective procurement and supplier management to meet production goals.
Advanced MaterialsAerospaceManufacturingNational SecuritySpace Travel
Responsibilities
Utilize good risk management intuition to balance cost, reliability, and production rate based on knowledge of program goals and context in a highly dynamic environment – and make effective risk calls knowing when to prioritize one over the other
Analyze supplier spend, capacity, technical capabilities, and core competencies to develop overall supplier negotiation and engagement strategies. Implement sustainable cost controls based on domain knowledge of part families and develop cost reduction improvement plans with suppliers to support aggressive Raptor cost goals
Analyze commodity vendor base to understand gaps in supplier core competencies, technical capabilities, and partnership, in order to develop/expand core supply base as necessary, and monitor/report out vendor performance in cost, quality, and delivery. Develop + maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers
Work directly with key suppliers and Starship strategic partners to develop and implement sourcing and cost management strategies that support stable products as well as new product development. Present commodity roadmaps + supply landscape to internal stakeholders to brief partner teams on sourcing strategy
Ensure work centers are clear to build on time by driving fulfillment from the vendor base to SpaceX and that lineside inventory health is meeting specifications like sensible min/max/reorder-points that are aligned to the MRP Demand plan
Have extreme ownership of the work center inventory health overall working closely with production counterparts and engineering to develop robust understanding of supply base ability to stay on top of start and finish dates and scale production rates
Manage production process or design change cut-ins while balancing risk of NPI to engine reliability and overcommunicating with stakeholders to project manage NPI effectively
Mitigate sole/single source risk and ensure continuity of supply by developing and leading commodity strategies for sheet metal, raw material, complex machined parts, hardware, and other aerospace components from cradle to grave. Will act as the supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs and RFQs
Provide guidance to internal customers on design for manufacturability and trade analysis for precision CNC machined components, as well as partner with internal resources to drive adoption of low-cost parts
Proactively investigate new market trends, supplier roadmaps, and collaborate with engineering on best path from a technology, cost, and supply standpoint
Visit supplier facilities and accurately assess operational capability, financial health, and capacity in order to award contracts in support of new product development and long-term production, while conducting comprehensive supplier analysis, including strategic direction, capacity, market and industry position, and risk assessment
Proactively update SpaceX management and engineering teams on all critical supply issues, with the ability to present value propositions to executives when necessary
Solve problems to recover from late breaking changes or shortages. Ensure that the production reality (work center cycle time) is supported by a credible and well-thought out inventory demand-supply plan (vehicle exit rate)
Be the “go to” resource for engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and new product introduction teams when determining best value suppliers, NPI sourcing plans, make vs. buy, should cost, buy complete strategies, and lead times, etc
Qualification
Required
Advanced degree and 3+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 9+ years of experience working in one or more of the following: Engineering, Purchasing, Contract negotiation, Operations or supply chain management, Cost control
Must be able to travel up to 15%
Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
This position is based in Hawthorne, CA and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
Preferred
Technical procurement, manufacturing, and vendor management experience – preferably complex machined components, forgings, or raw materials in an aerospace/high volume manufacturing industry
Drive negotiation process to ensure that Raptor pricing meets/exceeds Best-In-Class expectations, while meeting/exceeding Best-In-Class quality, in addition to driving continual cost reduction and avoidance initiatives through ad-hoc price negotiations
Experience in new product introduction (NPI) and mass production (MP) with the ability to read technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawing, BOMs and all related files
Strong experience in vendor management, contract negotiation, and demonstrated experience in technically driven cost reductions
Exceptional analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite, SQL, Access, etc
Effective written, verbal, and presentation communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate risks and mitigation solutions
Ability to learn program context and production goals quickly to be able to prioritize appropriately to meet customer and company needs
Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly to a fast-moving and ever-changing environment while striving for excellence in domain knowledge
Conducts all activities with the highest levels of integrity
Benefits
Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards
Potential discretionary bonuses
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
401(k) retirement plan
Short and long-term disability insurance
Life insurance
Paid parental leave
3 weeks of paid vacation
10 or more paid holidays per year
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy
Company
SpaceX
SpaceX is an aviation and aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft.
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$11.78BKey Investors
Korea Investment PartnersIntesa SanpaoloAndreessen Horowitz
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Recent News
2026-01-07
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