SOURCING MANAGER, BOARD MECHANICALS, CONNECTORS (STARLINK) We are seeking a world-class Sourcing Manager to own end-to-end sourcing strategy, supplier management, and delivery of board-level mechanicals and connectors for SpaceXAI compute and network hardware. In this role you will partner deeply with responsible engineers, signal-integrity, and packaging teams to define commodity strategy, craft and optimize statements of work (SOW), aggressively challenge unnecessary specifications and costs, and drive connector and board-hardware execution at extreme velocity and scale. You will elevate relationships with connector OEMs and precision mechanical suppliers into true strategic partnerships that deliver unprecedented on-time delivery, quality, cost efficiency, and flexibility while powering SpaceX's record-breaking cluster deployment cadence. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in high-speed and power interconnects, thrives in high-ambiguity/high-velocity environments, and turns the connector and board-mechanical supply base into a core competitive advantage and force multiplier for SpaceX's AI infrastructure leadership.
RESPONSIBILITIES:- Partner deeply with responsible engineers, signal-integrity, power, and packaging teams to co-define commodity strategy, multi-year technology roadmaps, and approved vendor lists for board mechanicals and connectors - high-speed I/O (OSFP, OSFP-XD, QSFP-DD, PCIe CEM, MCIO, SlimSAS, backplane and mezzanine), power connectors (including 48V, blind-mate, and busbar interfaces), CPU and accelerator sockets, DIMM sockets, cages and EMI hardware, standoffs, latches, ejectors, retention backplates, and related board-level mechanicals- anticipating SpaceXAI interconnect and density requirements 12-24 months ahead
- Own global sourcing end-to-end for connectors and board mechanicals, including supplier selection, qualification, dual/multi-sourcing on constrained high-speed and socket SKUs, capacity reservation, and performance governance to achieve on-time delivery and continuous lead-time compression while supporting SpaceX's aggressive cluster build cadence
- Define and negotiate transformative SOWs and commercial agreements that rigorously challenge unnecessary specifications, drive value engineering of connector footprints and mechanical stack-ups, secure aggressive pricing, dedicated tooling and capacity, and flexibility without compromising SI, power, and reliability standards required for SpaceX training clusters
- Drive continuous cost leadership through should-cost modeling of connectors, cages, and precision stampings/die-castings, design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly reviews, SKU rationalization, and long-term pricing agreements that meaningfully reduce total cost of ownership while accelerating time-to-scale
- Act as the supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs; visit connector and precision-mechanical factories and accurately assess process capability (stamping, plating, molding, automated assembly), quality systems, financial health, and capacity before awarding NPI and production contracts
- Monitor global industry trends in high-speed interconnect (224G/448G, co-packaged and near-package copper), power-connector standards, socket roadmaps, and plating/materials constraints; partner with design teams to identify and mitigate sole-source, allocation, and obsolescence risk before it hits the board spin or the factory
- Work with supply chain engineers and component engineers to develop requirements for both NPI and production phases; drive second-source and footprint-compatible strategies without compromising SI or mechanical fit
- Standardize and automate NPI-to-mass-production processes, implement inventory models for long-lead connectors and custom mechanicals (including consignment and just-in-time tailored to SpaceX's build velocity), and establish clear KPIs for cost, quality, speed, yield, and resilience that are reviewed weekly with leadership
- Present value propositions to executives, including those related to contract award, tooling, cost reviews, and critical interconnect supply issues
- Build and maintain a world-class supply base through strategic relationships with connector OEMs (and their authorized channels), socket suppliers, and precision mechanical fabricators; run executive business reviews and performance scorecards that position SpaceX as the preferred high-velocity partner
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 9+ years of experience working in one or more of the following in lieu of a degree:
- Business
- Manufacturing
- Supply Chain
- Engineering
- 4+ years of experience in global supply chain, commodity management, or electronics sourcing with a focus on connectors, interconnects, sockets, or board-level mechanical hardware
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:- Deep technical understanding of high-speed I/O connectors, power connectors, CPU/accelerator sockets, DIMM sockets, cages/EMI hardware, and board-level mechanicals (standoffs, latches, retention)
- Proven track record sourcing connector and interconnect commodities at hyperscale, at server/network OEMs, or at connector OEMs (e.g. Amphenol, TE Connectivity, Molex, Samtec, Foxconn)
- Hands-on familiarity with connector drawings, plating specifications, SI/mechanical stack-up trade-offs, IPC standards, and the difference between catalog vs. custom interconnects
- Previous experience at hyperscalers, leading ODMs, Tier-1 CMs, or AI infrastructure companies with aggressive scaling demands
- Demonstrated success negotiating complex SOWs, challenging specifications and costs, and delivering results in ambiguous, high-velocity environments with extreme timelines and massive scale
- Experience reading technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawings, BOMs, and related files
- Strong negotiation, analytical, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Familiarity with commodity management, roadmap planning, allocation management, and approved vendor list processes in a manufacturing context
- Passion for SpaceX's mission and excitement about enabling the fastest AI infrastructure builds on Earth
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to 25%) to support supplier factories, audits, and critical projects
- Ability to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major cluster-deployment milestones
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment with rapidly evolving priorities and world-class execution speed
- This position is based in Austin, TX and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
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.
