Supplier Development Engineer, Routers

About the role

This position manages the end-to-end supplier development lifecycle for WiFi routers and wireless modules within the Starlink User Terminal program. You will oversee strategic selection, new product introduction, and high-volume production scaling while ensuring quality standards are met through rigorous technical oversight.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage the full supplier lifecycle for WiFi routers and wireless modules, from initial selection and qualification through production ramps.
• Collaborate with suppliers on equipment selection and process engineering to ensure high-volume manufacturing readiness.
• Evaluate supplier technical capabilities regarding PCB assembly for RF circuits, antenna integration, thermal solutions, and automated testing.
• Lead production part approval processes, first article inspections, and reliability campaigns.
• Develop qualification protocols for RF testing, including OTA throughput, MIMO, beamforming calibration, and EMI/EMC compliance.
• Drive performance improvements using Lean methodologies, audits, and supplier scorecards.
• Conduct root cause analysis for quality issues such as RF desense, antenna detuning, and thermal instability.
• Provide reactive quality support using 8D and 5-Why methodologies to address field returns and production escapes.
• Coordinate with design, RF test, and production teams to align manufacturing processes with performance goals.

Your focus is making sure the suppliers who build Starlink's WiFi routers and wireless modules can scale to high-volume production without compromising quality. That means being involved from the very beginning: you will help select suppliers strategically, guide them through new product introduction, and work alongside them on equipment selection and process engineering so their facilities are ready for production ramps. A strong part of the role is technical evaluation, covering PCB assembly for RF circuits, antenna integration, thermal solutions, and automated testing, so that capability gaps are identified before they become production problems.

Once parts are in production, you own the quality side. You will lead production part approval processes, first article inspections, and reliability campaigns, and you will develop qualification protocols for RF testing that cover OTA throughput, MIMO, beamforming calibration, and EMI/EMC compliance. When issues arise, you will drive root cause analysis for problems such as RF desense, antenna detuning, and thermal instability, and provide reactive quality support using 8D and 5-Why methodologies for field returns and production escapes. Throughout, you will use Lean methodologies, audits, and supplier scorecards to drive performance improvement, and you will coordinate with design, RF test, and production teams to keep manufacturing processes aligned with performance goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related engineering field.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in WiFi, RF, quality, reliability, or supplier development (includes internships).
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25 percent of the time.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to comply with ITAR regulations.
• Availability for extended hours and weekend work as needed for production support.

Nice to have

• 3+ years of experience in WiFi, RF, quality, reliability, or supplier development.
• Technical mastery of IEEE 802.11 standards, antenna systems, and high-volume manufacturing.
• Proficiency in PPAP, APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, and FAI.
• Familiarity with IEEE 802.11ax, 802.11be, FCC Part 15, ETSI EN 300 328, IEC 62368-1, IPC-A-610, and AS9100.
• Experience qualifying dual-band/tri-band routers, MIMO arrays, OFDMA, high-order QAM, 320 MHz bandwidths, and beamforming.
• Skills in Minitab, design of experiments, and Six Sigma.
• Knowledge of reliability testing such as accelerated life testing and thermal cycling.
• Ability to interpret 2D drawings, RF schematics, and antenna gain patterns.

Skills & tools

WiFi and RF hardware engineering, high-volume manufacturing processes, root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why), Lean manufacturing and process capability, reliability engineering.

Practical notes

This role is based onsite in Bastrop, TX. Expect potential weekend work and extended hours during critical production phases. Travel requirements are up to 25 percent. SpaceX is an equal opportunity employer.