Sourcing Specialist, Mechanical & Optical Commodities (Starlink) Verified today

Role

As a member of the Starlink supply chain team, you will manage sourcing across mechanical and optical commodities used on Starlink satellites. You must move quickly in a fast-paced environment where SpaceX shapes suppliers to achieve best-in-class cost, quality, and execution speed.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage supply base (domestic and international) that enables rapid design iteration
• Work directly with key suppliers to develop and implement sourcing and cost management strategies for existing platforms and new product development
• Own supply continuity, capacity planning, and production readiness for rapidly scaling programs
• Drive supplier negotiations including pricing, long-term agreements (LTAs), capacity investments, lead times, and commercial terms
• Monitor global industry trends, track technology roadmaps, and partner with design teams to identify and mitigate supply and demand challenges
• Partner with engineering teams to support new product introduction (NPI), design changes, qualification activities, and production transitions
• Build and maintain sourcing strategies including multi-source development, vertical integration opportunities, and new manufacturing techniques
• Lead executive-level supplier escalations and recovery efforts for quality, delivery, and technical risks
• Develop risk assessments, mitigation plans, and production recovery strategies
• Monitor and improve supplier performance on delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost
• Drive end-to-end ownership of hardware from material readiness through full-rate production
• Manage costs to align with program budget
• Present value propositions to executives on contract award, cost reviews, cost reduction strategies, and critical supply issues

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, material planning, production planning, supply chain management, or engineering

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 3+ years of procurement experience in direct commodity sourcing
• Technical procurement or planning experience with machined, optical, or photonic components
• Experience in new product introduction (NPI) and mass production (MP)
• Experience reading technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and related files
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate piece price and tooling to meet best-in-class expectations for cost and quality
• Experience with category management including business plans, market conditions, technology roadmaps, cost modeling, and sourcing strategies
• Proven track record of taking ownership, negotiating preferred pricing, and driving results
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly in a fast-moving environment
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to travel up to 30% of work week and communicate outside of work hours
• Must work onsite in Redmond, WA. Remote work not considered.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to comply with ITAR regulations

Compensation

Sourcing Specialist/Level I: $85,000 to $100,000 per year

Senior Sourcing Specialist/Level II: $95,000 to $120,000 per year

Actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits include long-term incentives (company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards), 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, paid sick time in compliance with Washington State law, and company shuttles from select Seattle locations to the Redmond office Monday to Friday.