Supplier Development Engineer, Manufacturing (Raptor)
Hawthorne · 1+ years experience · Posted Oct 6, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 1+ years experience
- Location
- Hawthorne
About the role
- SpaceX is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Manufacturing (Raptor) to support the Raptor program in Hawthorne.
- This position requires a combination of proven leadership and technical capabilities to drive supply chain quality and manufacturing excellence for rocket engine components.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical point of contact for assigned parts and assemblies of the rocket, solving emergent challenges at suppliers, and mitigating risk to the manifest by addressing high-impact manufacturing and quality challenges
- Own the new product introduction of new parts and assemblies on the rocket, including determining the ideal manufacturing method, identifying and reviewing suppliers, and developing a reliable process for ramping to rate for parts that are new, undergoing drawing changes, or undergoing re-sourcing at a new supplier
- Drive technical product improvements and related engineering drawing updates to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities as well as improve manufacturability, manufacturing lead times, and cost
- Review issues on assigned parts and solve to the root cause, implementing changes at the supplier, at SpaceX or both, as appropriate, drive further actions to closure, and re-source to new suppliers where appropriate
- Create and disposition issue tickets where needed, working with engineering counterparts to implement, but not limited to, required re-work, repair or use as-is disposition
- Lead containment activities on assigned parts, working with cross-functional counterparts to agree on scope, path forward and ultimate resolution
- Work with procurement to find exceptional suppliers and vet them appropriately for quality and ability to meet our aggressive takt times
- Review and assess supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems, providing feedback as appropriate and manage supplier improvements
- Demonstrate innovation, technical excellence, attention to detail, self-direction and courage to push the technical envelope which is conventionally held in the industry
- Become thoroughly familiar with your assigned parts and the processes that make up the overall assembly and become the primary point of contact for supply chain related defects on your parts
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with manufacturing or process engineering
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with manufacturing, machined parts, fabricated components, sheet metal, composites, and/or raw materials & special processes
- Experience with assessing supplier technical capability both from an equipment, operations, and personnel perspective
- Knowledge of supplier quality processes (Production Part Approval Process, Advanced Product Quality Planning, First Article Inspection Reports, etc.)
- Disciplined approach to problem solving – i.e. 8D
- Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100)
- Experience with 3D modeling/CAD software, and engineering drawing creation
- Experience with Pareto analysis, root cause, corrective action, and PFMEAs
- Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) experience
Benefits
- Company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards
- Potential discretionary bonuses
- 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
Workplace
- Ability to travel: up to 40-50% work week travel
Skills
- CAD
- Minitab
- Six Sigma
- GD&T
- 8D
