SR. SUPPLIER QUALITY SPECIALIST, DATA CENTER (STARLINK)

SpaceX is on a mission to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. We are building some of the world's most technically advanced facilities and data centers, which demand a new type of supply chain. Our suppliers must deliver premium quality hardware and components with rapidly evolving designs at commercial scale volumes, while meeting extreme reliability, availability, and serviceability requirements.

We are looking for candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and quality tools and have unrelenting motivation to enable suppliers for success. This position supports the Supply Chain Reliability organization by managing tactical supplier quality activities with operational rigor, providing high service levels to all stakeholders, and allowing the broader team to focus on high-priority and proactive actions. This includes eliminating the impact of vendor-caused defects on data center engineering, manufacturing, installation, and operations through rapid defect containment, resolution, and corrective/preventive action.

Primarily, you will uncover non-conformances onsite (or at supplier facilities) and work with cross-functional teams to improve vendor quality for data center hardware, including rack-level solutions, power distribution, cooling systems, compute/storage/networking components, and related infrastructure. You will help create and refine structures for executing and improving processes used to manage supplier deviation requests (SDR), material review board (MRB), supplier part containments, first article inspections (FAI), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities, and supplier corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). You will drive operational excellence in supplier non-conformance management and work to reduce future non-conformances. You will build an extensive network within design engineering, reliability, manufacturing, infrastructure, production, and supply chain management, while developing a deep understanding of SpaceX data center systems and processes.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Execute supply chain non-conformance management processes, including SDR, MRB, return to vendor (RTV), FAI support/review, PPAP support, and supplier corrective and preventive action (CAPA).
• Analyze supplier quality data and partner with supply chain engineers, design, materials, and infrastructure teams to drive supplier improvements and root cause corrective actions.
• Build relationships with cross-functional groups to identify, reduce, and ultimately eliminate impacts from vendor defects on data center hardware reliability, installation, and operations.
• Support assessment of supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems; help define and enforce supplier technical and quality requirements based on reliability lessons learned.
• Assist the team in developing policies, standards, processes, and documentation as necessary to ensure continued success and continuous improvement.
• Provide support for reliability-focused activities such as contributing to design FMEA insights, validation feedback, and ongoing quality monitoring for high-density compute, cooling, and power systems.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• 4+ years of experience in engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, or quality field.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, supply chain, or related field.
• Good written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Experience reading engineering drawings, including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality management system standards.
• Previous experience working with suppliers, corrective/preventive action systems, supplier portals, FAI, and PPAP.
• Experience with MS Excel, SQL, process flow mapping, warehouse management systems, lean production environments, and Six Sigma training.
• Familiarity with data center hardware (racks, PDUs, cooling systems, servers/switches, high-density compute integration), thermal/mechanical/electrical domains, or reliability methods.
• Exposure to statistical data analysis, failure analysis techniques, or environmental/reliability testing concepts.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position is based in Bastrop, TX or Memphis, TN and requires being onsite-remote work not considered.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to travel: Up to 30% of the work week 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. a7 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.