Supplier Development Engineer, Automation & Controls

About the role

This role supports the Starlink User Terminal business by managing the development and optimization of automated manufacturing systems at contract manufacturers. You will oversee the entire equipment lifecycle, from initial design and specification to final qualification and production support, ensuring high-volume manufacturing meets quality and throughput targets.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage end-to-end development and qualification of automated assembly equipment and control systems.
• Collaborate with suppliers on equipment selection, fixturing design, and controls architecture.
• Design custom automation fixtures and error-proofing mechanisms to ensure process repeatability.
• Engineer conveyor systems, including routing algorithms and material flow logic to reduce work-in-process.
• Program and troubleshoot PLC logic, HMI, and SCADA systems, including safety interlocks.
• Analyze production data to improve OEE, reduce takt time, and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Integrate robotics, vision systems, and servo motion control using protocols like EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, and Profinet.
• Conduct design of experiments and corner case studies to validate equipment performance.
• Execute formal equipment qualification processes including IQ, OQ, PQ, GR&R, and PPAP.
• Perform root cause analysis using 8D and 5-Why methods to address production downtime or quality issues.

This role focuses on the automated manufacturing systems that build Starlink User Terminals at contract manufacturers. You will manage the end-to-end development and qualification of automated assembly equipment and control systems, and you will collaborate with suppliers on equipment selection, fixturing design, and controls architecture. The goal is to ensure high-volume manufacturing meets quality and throughput targets.

Much of the work is hands-on with the equipment itself. You will design custom automation fixtures and error-proofing mechanisms to ensure process repeatability, engineer conveyor systems including routing algorithms and material flow logic to reduce work-in-process, and program and troubleshoot PLC logic, HMI, and SCADA systems, including safety interlocks. You will also analyze production data to improve OEE, reduce takt time, and eliminate bottlenecks, and integrate robotics, vision systems, and servo motion control using protocols like EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, and Profinet.

Validation is central to the role. You will conduct design of experiments and corner case studies to validate equipment performance, execute formal equipment qualification processes including IQ, OQ, PQ, GR&R, and PPAP, and perform root cause analysis using 8D and 5-Why methods to address production downtime or quality issues.

Automated manufacturing at Starlink scale depends on equipment that runs consistently with minimal intervention. Your work ensuring equipment is properly designed, qualified, and supported directly affects production throughput and quality. The role requires frequent travel to contract manufacturers and the ability to work closely with supplier teams, so strong communication and a practical, hands-on engineering mindset are essential.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in mechanical, electrical, or controls engineering.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in automation equipment development, controls engineering, or manufacturing line deployment.

Nice to have

• Proficiency in PLC programming with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Beckhoff platforms.
• Experience with industrial networking protocols and HMI development.
• Knowledge of ANSI/RIA robot safety standards, ISO 13849, IPC-A-610, and AS9100.
• Competency in statistical process control, Minitab, and process window development.
• Proven ability to manage contract manufacturer relationships and influence cross-functional teams.

Skills & tools

PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff), HMI and SCADA development, robotic integration and vision systems, industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, Profinet), statistical analysis (Minitab, DOE, SPC), root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why), equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ, PPAP).

Practical notes

Travel: up to 30% domestic and international travel required. Schedule: expect extended hours and weekend work during production ramps and equipment bring-ups. ITAR: applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees to comply with U.S. government export regulations.

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.