Supplier Development Engineer, Silicon

About the role

SpaceX is building the infrastructure to support human life on Mars, and the Starlink User Terminal business is a critical component of this mission. We are looking for a technical engineer to manage the silicon and packaging supply chain as we scale production for consumer, enterprise, and mobility markets. You will own the end-to-end development process, from selecting suppliers to ensuring high-volume manufacturing success.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage the full lifecycle of silicon, wafer, and packaging components, including supplier selection, new product introduction, and production scaling.
• Collaborate with suppliers on process engineering and equipment selection to ensure manufacturing readiness.
• Advise internal teams on process nodes like 3nm, 5nm, and 7nm CMOS, as well as packaging methods such as 2.5D, 3D integration, fan-out, and system-in-package.
• Evaluate supplier technical capabilities regarding yield, process stability, and capacity.
• Execute qualification plans, including wafer-level reliability, thermal cycling, and high-temperature operating life testing.
• Standardize protocols for factory and site acceptance testing across the supply base.
• Conduct root cause analysis for quality escapes and field returns using structured methodologies.
• Partner with design and test engineering to align supplier output with Starlink performance requirements.

This role sits at the core of the silicon that powers Starlink User Terminals. You will manage the full lifecycle of silicon, wafer, and packaging components, from supplier selection through new product introduction and production scaling, and you will collaborate with suppliers on process engineering and equipment selection so they are ready for high-volume manufacturing. Because silicon choices have a direct impact on performance, cost, and schedule, you will also advise internal teams on process nodes such as 3nm, 5nm, and 7nm CMOS, and on packaging methods including 2.5D, 3D integration, fan-out, and system-in-package.

Qualification and quality are central to the role. You will evaluate supplier technical capabilities regarding yield, process stability, and capacity, and you will execute qualification plans that include wafer-level reliability, thermal cycling, and high-temperature operating life testing. You will standardize protocols for factory and site acceptance testing across the supply base, conduct root cause analysis for quality escapes and field returns using structured methodologies, and partner with design and test engineering to align supplier output with Starlink performance requirements.

Working in silicon means working at the leading edge of semiconductor manufacturing, where process choices made today affect cost and yield for years. The role requires a technical engineer who can speak fluently with both fab and assembly suppliers and with SpaceX design teams, translating performance requirements into concrete supplier deliverables and qualification criteria.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in electrical engineering, semiconductor physics, materials science, or a related engineering field.
• Minimum 1 year of industry experience in silicon engineering, covering front-end wafer fabrication, back-end assembly, or silicon test.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to comply with U.S. export regulations.

Nice to have

• Expertise in CMOS process flows, photolithography, deposition, etching, and chemical mechanical polishing.
• Background in packaging technologies like flip-chip, wire bonding, and wafer-level packaging.
• Experience with automated test equipment, wafer probing, scan techniques, and BIST.
• Familiarity with JEDEC, AEC-Q100, and AS9100 standards.
• Proficiency in statistical tools such as Minitab, Six Sigma, and Design of Experiments.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, and FMEA processes.

Skills & tools

Front-end wafer fabrication, back-end packaging and assembly, silicon test program development, root cause analysis (8D, 5-Whys), supply chain management for high-volume manufacturing.

Practical notes

This role requires being onsite in Bastrop, TX. Travel up to 25% of the time, including domestic and international trips. Expect extended hours and occasional weekend work to support production ramps and urgent technical issues.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.