Join SpaceX as a Supplier Development Engineer to ensure quality materials and processes for the Starship program.
Posted by employer 4 days ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 days ago
Last verified on the company career page 21 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
What you'll build
- Serve as the technical point of contact for materials commodities
- Own development of raw-material commodities
- Solve emergent supplier issues
- Lead containment on materials and process escapes
- Drive requirement and drawing changes
Must have
- Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering
- 1+ years of experience with R&D, manufacturing, or processing engineering role
Nice to have
- Experience with manufacturing, raw materials, special processes
- Knowledge of supplier quality processes
- Disciplined approach to problem solving
- Experience with quality systems
- Knowledge of lean concepts and statistical methods
Practical constraints
- Ability to work extended hours, some nights and/or weekends when needed
- Ability to travel: up to 40-50% work week travel
Requirements
- Experience
- 1+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Visa
- No sponsorship (stated in posting)
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Supplier Development Engineer for Materials & Metals at SpaceX is responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of materials used in the Starship program, ensuring quality and consistency as production scales. This role requires a solid foundation in materials science or metallurgy, along with practical problem-solving skills to address supplier-related issues and improve manufacturing processes. Ideal candidates will have some experience in R&D or manufacturing engineering, and a background in assessing supplier capabilities is beneficial. The position involves significant collaboration across teams and may require travel to supplier sites.
Joblaze insights
- Listed 2 days ago — first seen on Joblaze September 18, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page September 20, 2026.
- Salary band is below the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$126,887).
- Starts above 26% of 1237 comparable mid other roles in United States we track (median $105,600 across 181 companies).
- Welding appears in 1.5% of 2859 comparable mid other roles in United States; Metallurgy appears in 0.1% of 2859 comparable mid other roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Supplier Development Engineer, Materials & Metals (Starship) role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in Hawthorne, CA.
- What's the salary range?
- SpaceX lists $100,000–$117,500 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 1 year of relevant experience for this Supplier Development Engineer, Materials & Metals (Starship) role.
- Where is the role based?
- SpaceX is hiring for this position in Hawthorne, CA.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Materials Science, Metallurgy, Welding, coating, finishing, heat treatment.
- What seniority level is this role?
- SpaceX targets mid-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Supplier Development Engineer, Materials & Metals (Starship) role at SpaceX.
From the original posting
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, MATERIALS & METALS
Starship needs a supply base that can hold quality while designs change and rates go up. This role is the technical owner for materials and metals at our suppliers — raw material, processing, and special processes that fly on the vehicle.
You will take hardware from new product development through stable production across metal processing, finishing, welding, heat treatment, inspection, and related processes. You need a real materials or metallurgy foundation, judgment on the shop floor, and the willingness to pick up unfamiliar work when the mission requires it.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Serve as the technical point of contact for materials commodities and processes, including raw material, welding, heat treatment, and finishing/coating
- Own development of raw-material commodities and related products: select the manufacturing method, identify and vet suppliers, and build a process that can ramp to rate
- Solve emergent supplier issues that threaten the manifest — high-impact materials, processing, manufacturing, and quality problems
- Lead containment on materials and process escapes: scope the risk, align on a path with engineering and supply chain, and drive it to close
- Get to root cause on materials and processing issues; implement fixes at the supplier, at SpaceX, or both
- Create and disposition issue tickets with engineering counterparts (rework, repair, or use-as-is)
- Drive requirement and drawing changes that cut defect risk, improve manufacturability, and reduce lead time and cost
- Partner with procurement to find capable suppliers and assess them for quality and takt
- Review supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems; push improvements and own follow-through
- Be the supply-chain owner for materials- and process-related defects on your commodities
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, metallurgy, or metallurgical engineering
- 1+ years of experience with R&D, manufacturing, or processing engineering role
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience with manufacturing, raw materials, special processes, castings, forgings, or sheet metal
- Experience with assessing supplier technical capability from an equipment, operations, and personnel perspective
- Knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAIR, etc.)
- Disciplined approach to problem solving (8D, Pareto, root cause, corrective action, PFMEA, etc.)
- Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000//AS9100)
- Knowledge of lean concepts and statistical methods (Minitab, DOE, Six Sigma)
- Ability to clearly communicate with all levels of the organization
- Ability to influence across functions, internally and at the supplier
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to work extended hours, some nights and/or weekends when needed
- Ability to travel: up to 40-50% work week travel
- Valid driver’s license
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.