Sourcing Manager (Raptor)

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. SOURCING MANAGER (RAPTOR) The Raptor Supply Chain Sourcing Manager is a critical player in developing the supply base, cost strategy, and sourcing plan to enable the scaling of Raptor production to support the 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 Raptor program. This is a high visibility role with the opportunity to develop and optimize the sourcing strategy for critical Raptor 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 Raptor’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 Raptor 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 Raptor 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 Raptor 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 d