Sourcing Manager - Starship

SOURCING MANAGER (STARSHIP)

The Starship Supply Chain Sourcing Manager is a critical player in developing the supply base, cost strategy, and sourcing plan to enable the scaling of Starship production to support Starship's mission to make human life multiplanetary. To capitalize on SpaceX’s technological and market changing successes, this exciting role will be part of managing an agile yet robust supply chain capable of maintaining production rate goals, quickly incorporating design changes for engine reliability, and cost optimization to support the goals of the entire Starship program. This is a high visibility role with the opportunity to develop and optimize the sourcing strategy for critical Starship hardware, primarily forgings and complex machined parts while developing our vendor base to scale with the program.

This role will mostly entail strategic technical procurement, supplier development and quality management, logistics/packaging optimization, cost negotiations, and extremely effective communication with stakeholders. This role directly impacts Starship's ability to hit aggressive program cost goals and develop a world-class supply chain!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Utilize good risk management intuition to balance cost, reliability, and production rate based on knowledge of program goals and context in a highly dynamic environment – and make effective risk calls knowing when to prioritize one over the other.
• Analyze supplier spend, capacity, technical capabilities, and core competencies to develop overall supplier negotiation and engagement strategies. Implement sustainable cost controls based on domain knowledge of part families and develop cost reduction improvement plans with suppliers to support aggressive Starship cost goals.
• Analyze commodity vendor base to understand gaps in supplier core competencies, technical capabilities, and partnership, in order to develop/expand core supply base as necessary, and monitor/report out vendor performance in cost, quality, and delivery. Develop + maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Work directly with key suppliers and Starship strategic partners to develop and implement sourcing and cost management strategies that support stable products as well as new product development. Present commodity roadmaps + supply landscape to internal stakeholders to brief partner teams on sourcing strategy.
• Ensure work centers are clear to build on time by driving fulfillment from the vendor base to SpaceX and that lineside inventory health is meeting specifications like sensible min/max/reorder-points that are aligned to the MRP Demand plan.
• Have extreme ownership of the work center inventory health overall working closely with production counterparts and engineering to develop robust understanding of supply base ability to stay on top of start and finish dates and scale production rates.
• Manage production process or design change cut-ins while balancing risk of NPI to engine reliability and overcommunicating with stakeholders to project manage NPI effectively.
• Mitigate sole/single source risk and ensure continuity of supply by developing and leading commodity strategies for sheet metal, raw material, complex machined parts, hardware, and other aerospace components from cradle to grave. Will act as the supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs and RFQs.
• Provide guidance to internal customers on design for manufacturability and trade analysis for precision CNC machined components, as well as partner with internal resources to drive adoption of low-cost parts.
• Proactively investigate new market trends, supplier roadmaps, and collaborate with engineering on best path from a technology, cost, and supply standpoint.
• Visit supplier facilities and accurately assess operational capability, financial health, and capacity in order to award contracts in support of new product development and long-term production, while conducting comprehensive supplier analysis, including strategic direction, capacity, market and industry position, and risk assessment.
• Proactively update SpaceX management and engineering teams on all critical supply issues, with the ability to present value propositions to executives when necessary.
• Solve problems to recover from late breaking changes or shortages. Ensure that the production reality (work center cycle time) is supported by a credible and well-thought out inventory demand-supply plan (vehicle exit rate).
• Be the “go to” resource for engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and new product introduction teams when determining best value suppliers, NPI sourcing plans, make vs. buy, should cost, buy complete strategies, and lead times, etc.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree and 3+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 9+ years of experience working in one or more of the following:
  • Engineering
  • Purchasing
  • Contract negotiation
  • Operations or supply chain management
  • Cost control

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Technical procurement, manufacturing, and vendor management experience – preferably complex machined components, forgings, or raw materials in an aerospace/high volume manufacturing industry.
• Drive negotiation process to ensure that Starship pricing meets/exceeds Best-In-Class expectations, while meeting/exceeding Best-In-Class quality, in addition to driving continual cost reduction and avoidance initiatives through ad-hoc price negotiations.
• Experience in new product introduction (NPI) and mass production (MP) with the ability to read technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawing, BOMs and all related files.
• Strong experience in vendor management, contract negotiation, and demonstrated experience in technically driven cost reductions.
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite, SQL, Access, etc.
• Effective written, verbal, and presentation communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate risks and mitigation solutions.
• Ability to learn program context and production goals quickly to be able to prioritize appropriately to meet customer and company needs.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly to a fast-moving and ever-changing environment while striving for excellence in domain knowledge.
• Conducts all activities with the highest levels of integrity.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to travel up to 15%.
• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed.
• This position is based in Starbase, TX and requires being onsite - remote work not considered.