Sr. Sourcing Specialist (Starship)

Responsibilities

• Own sourcing activities across a range of commodities, including precision-machined components, outside processes (e.g., heat treat, coatings), forgings, castings, and other complex manufactured parts.
• Quote, negotiate, and place purchase orders for precision-machined components while ensuring alignment with technical specifications, cost targets, and delivery schedules.
• Forecast demand, evaluate supplier capacity, and proactively manage purchase orders to ensure uninterrupted supply of piece parts in support of aggressive development and production schedules.
• Track and drive supplier performance across quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications to select and align with suppliers that deliver optimal manufacturability, quality, and cost efficiency.
• Manage frequent design changes by clearly communicating updates to the supply base, minimizing downtime, and reducing lead times through proactive coordination.
• Take initiative to solve complex, open-ended supply chain problems in an ambiguous, fast-evolving environment to ensure continuity of supply.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to drive alignment, foster collaboration, and enable effective change management throughout the product lifecycle.
• Consistently deliver results with a high level of efficiency and effectiveness, balancing speed and accuracy to meet critical program deadlines.

Basic Qualifications

• Advanced degree; or bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 6+ years of experience working in one or more of the following:
• Engineering
• Supply Chain
• Purchasing
• Contract negotiation
• Material or production planning
• Operations management
• Material cost control
• Master production scheduling

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience leveraging AI tools and large language models to accelerate sourcing activities, including supplier research, cost analysis, demand forecasting, risk assessment, and contract review.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguous situations, work across organizational boundaries, and rapidly self-learn and apply new tools and techniques.
• Experience leading supplier development, qualification, and onboarding activities to expand and diversify the supply base for high-rate production.
• Strong data analysis skills using Excel, SQL, and Power BI.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems and managing bills of materials, work orders, and purchase orders.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to thrive and prioritize in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment with multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience with forecasting, demand planning, and lead time analysis
• Proven track record of achieving results with the ability to quantify impact.
• Solid understanding of common manufacturing processes and equipment, including mills, lathes, forgings, castings, heat treatment, and coatings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface effectively at all levels of the organization.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 15%.
• Ability to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed.
• This position is based in Hawthorne, CA and requires being onsite - remote work not considered