Sourcing Manager, Board Mechanicals, Connectors (Starlink)

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.

Responsibilities

• Partner deeply with responsible engineers, signal‑integrity, power, and packaging teams to co‑define commodity strategy, multi‑year technology roadmaps, and approved vendor lists for board mechanicals and connectors—including high‑speed I/O (OSFP, OSFP‑XD, QSFP‑DD, PCIe CEM, MCIO, SlimSAS, backplane and mezzanine), power connectors (48 V, blind‑mate, busbar), CPU and accelerator sockets, DIMM sockets, cages, EMI hardware, standoffs, latches, ejectors, retention backplates, and related board‑level mechanicals—anticipating SpaceXAI interconnect and density requirements 12–24 months ahead.
• Own global sourcing end‑to‑end for connectors and board mechanicals, covering supplier selection, qualification, dual/multi‑sourcing on constrained high‑speed and socket SKUs, capacity reservation, and performance governance to achieve on‑time delivery and continuous lead‑time compression while supporting SpaceX’s aggressive cluster build cadence.
• Define and negotiate transformative statements of work and commercial agreements that rigorously challenge unnecessary specifications, drive value engineering of connector footprints and mechanical stack‑ups, secure aggressive pricing, dedicated tooling and capacity, and flexibility without compromising signal integrity, power, and reliability standards required for SpaceX training clusters.
• Drive continuous cost leadership through should‑cost modeling of connectors, cages, and precision stampings/die‑castings; conduct design‑for‑manufacturability and design‑for‑assembly reviews; perform SKU rationalization; and negotiate long‑term pricing agreements that reduce total cost of ownership while accelerating time‑to‑scale.
• Act as the supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs; visit connector and precision‑mechanical factories and accurately assess process capability (stamping, plating, molding, automated assembly), quality systems, financial health, and capacity before awarding NPI and production contracts.
• Monitor global industry trends in high‑speed interconnect (224 G/448 G, co‑packaged and near‑package copper), power‑connector standards, socket roadmaps, and plating/materials constraints; partner with design teams to identify and mitigate sole‑source, allocation, and obsolescence risk before it impacts board spin or factory production.
• Work with supply‑chain engineers and component engineers to develop requirements for both NPI and production phases; drive second‑source and footprint‑compatible strategies without compromising signal integrity or mechanical fit.
• Standardize and automate NPI‑to‑mass‑production processes, implement inventory models for long‑lead connectors and custom mechanicals (including consignment and just‑in‑time tailored to SpaceX’s build velocity), and establish clear KPIs for cost, quality, speed, yield, and resilience that are reviewed weekly with leadership.
• Present value propositions to executives, including those related to contract award, tooling, cost reviews, and critical interconnect supply issues.
• Build and maintain a world‑class supply base through strategic relationships with connector OEMs (and their authorized channels), socket suppliers, and precision mechanical fabricators; run executive business reviews and performance scorecards that position SpaceX as the preferred high‑velocity partner.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of experience working in one or more of the following: Business, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering; or 9+ years of experience in one or more of those areas in lieu of a degree.
• 4+ years of experience in global supply chain, commodity management, or electronics sourcing with a focus on connectors, interconnects, sockets, or board‑level mechanical hardware.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Deep technical understanding of high‑speed I/O connectors, power connectors, CPU/accelerator sockets, DIMM sockets, cages/EMI hardware, and board‑level mechanicals (standoffs, latches, retention).
• Proven track record sourcing connector and interconnect commodities at hyperscale, at server/network OEMs, or at connector OEMs (e.g., Amphenol, TE Connectivity, Molex, Samtec, Foxconn).
• Hands‑on familiarity with connector drawings, plating specifications, signal‑integrity/mechanical stack‑up trade‑offs, IPC standards, and the difference between catalog vs. custom interconnects.
• Previous experience at hyperscalers, leading ODMs, Tier‑1 CMs, or AI infrastructure companies with aggressive scaling demands.
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex SOWs, challenging specifications and costs, and delivering results in ambiguous, high‑velocity environments with extreme timelines and massive scale.
• Experience reading technical drawings, data sheets, fabrication drawings, BOMs, and related files.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, project‑management, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Familiarity with commodity management, roadmap planning, allocation management, and approved vendor list processes in a manufacturing context.
• Passion for SpaceX’s mission and excitement about enabling the fastest AI infrastructure builds on Earth.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to 25%) to support supplier factories, audits, and critical projects.
• Ability to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major cluster‑deployment milestones.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment with rapidly evolving priorities and world‑class execution speed.

Location

This position is based in Austin, TX and requires being onsite — remote work not considered.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, the applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.