Supplier Development Engineer, Routers (Starlink)

Overview SpaceX is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer, Routers (Starlink) to drive end‑to‑end supplier development for the WiFi router portfolio in the Starlink User Terminal. The role involves supplier selection, equipment selection, and process engineering to enable high‑volume manufacturing, ensuring material and process readiness, on‑time delivery, field performance monitoring, issue response, and feeding lessons learned back to engineering and process teams for iterative improvement. Responsibilities Own end‑to‑end supplier development for the WiFi router and wireless module portfolio within the Starlink User Terminal bill of materials, including strategic supplier selection, new product introduction (NPI), qualification, production ramp, and reactive quality support Engage early with suppliers on selection, equipment selection, and process engineering to set up high‑volume manufacturing programs by ensuring material and process corners are fully characterized and completed Assess supplier manufacturing capabilities, process controls, and technical readiness for high‑volume production of WiFi routers, including PCB assembly for RF circuits, antenna integration and tuning, RF shielding, thermal solutions, and automated testing systems Lead NPI activities, production part approval process (PPAP), first article inspections (FAI), production rate ramps, and reliability campaigns to enable full‑rate, high‑volume manufacturing Develop and execute qualification plans tailored to WiFi routers, including RF conducted and radiated testing, OTA throughput validation, MIMO and MU‑MIMO performance verification, beamforming calibration, thermal throttling assessment, and EMI/EMC compliance Create and standardize qualification protocols across the WiFi router supply base, including equipment buy‑off checklists, FAT, SAT, and reliable demonstration methods Drive supplier performance improvement through Lean methodologies, supplier scorecards, process audits, and systematic problem solving to deliver measurable gains in quality, cost, and on‑time delivery Perform root cause analysis and lead corrective actions for quality issues, focusing on common WiFi router failure modes such as RF desense, antenna detuning, shielding‑related signal degradation, thermal‑induced WiFi instability, and interference from power electronics Provide reactive quality engineering support, including rapid containment, root cause analysis using 8D and 5‑Why methodologies, and corrective actions for quality escapes, field returns, and production issues Own on‑time delivery of qualification and production ramp activities while continuously monitoring field performance and feeding lessons learned from field data back to design and process engineering teams Collaborate with WiFi Router Design Engineering, RF Test Engineering, and Production teams to ensure supplier processes and manufacturing capability align with Starlink high‑volume product requirements and performance goals Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or other engineering discipline 1+ years of experience in WiFi or RF engineering, quality engineering, reliability engineering, or supplier development (internship and extracurricular experience applicable) Preferred Skills and Experiences 3+ years of experience in WiFi or RF engineering, quality engineering, reliability engineering, or supplier development Strong technical background in IEEE 802.11 WiFi standards, RF hardware, antenna systems, and high‑volume manufacturing Hands‑on knowledge of high‑volume WiFi router manufacturing processes including SMT assembly for RF circuits, antenna tuning and integration, RF shielding, automated functional testing, and thermal management Experience with PPAP, APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, and FAI specifically for WiFi routers and wireless modules Familiarity with standards including IEEE 802.11ax, 802.11be, FCC Part 15, ETSI EN 300 328, IEC 62368‑1, IPC‑A‑610, and AS9100 Experience qualifying dual‑band/triple‑band routers, MIMO antenna arrays, OFDMA, 1024QAM and 4096QAM, channel bandwidths up to 320 MHz, and beamforming Strong problem‑solving skills using structured RCA methods and statistical tools (e.g., Minitab, DOE, Six Sigma) Knowledge of reliability engineering practices such as accelerated life testing, thermal cycling, humidity exposure, and RF performance drift analysis Ability to read and interpret two‑dimensional drawings, RF schematics, antenna gain patterns, and WiFi performance specifications Experience with Lean manufacturing concepts, supplier scorecards, and high‑volume process capability Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to distill complex topics into clear one‑pagers and presentations Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional teams and suppliers in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment Additional Requirements Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, domestically and internationally May require extended hours and occasional weekends to support production ramps and critical issue resolution This position is based in Bastrop, TX and requires onsite presence ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation or wishing to view SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan should contact View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr