Supervisor, Development Machining

SpaceX
Woodinville, WA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with hands-on machining experience and leadership background working in aerospace manufacturing.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on CNC machining expertise and a history of leading shop floor teams in process-sensitive environments
    — “Lead and develop a team of machining specialists, machining technicians, and quality specialists across 1st and 2nd shift”
  • Individuals who can balance technical precision with strategic planning in a high-stakes, mission-driven setting
    — “Set a high bar for machining aptitude on the floor: first-article discipline, process troubleshooting, and closing loops when parts or processes miss”
  • Candidates with a track record of accelerating new product introduction and driving efficiency improvements in manufacturing
    — “Deliver new product introduction, process development, and engineering test hardware on schedule”

Things to consider

  • Mandatory U.S. citizenship or residency due to ITAR export regulations
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident”
  • Requires flexibility to support both 1st and 2nd shift operations as the development cell is established
    — “Willingness to support 1st and 2nd shift as the development cell stands up”
  • Travel to vendor and launch/test sites may be necessary, adding logistical considerations
    — “Travel to vendor sites may be required”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with single-digit micron tolerance machining and process problem-solving on your resume
    — “facilitate quick turn single digit micron tolerance machined hardware”
  • Emphasize leadership of cross-functional teams and process improvement in a development or NPI environment
    — “Experience in a development, NPI, prototype, or process-improvement environment”
  • Demonstrate your ability to manage schedules, timecards, and team performance in a high-pressure setting
    — “Manage schedules, timecards, and direct report performance across both shifts”
  • Showcase your experience with precision inspection tools like CMM, micrometers, and profilometers
    — “Precision inspection experience (CMM and/or hand tools such as micrometers, calipers, and profilometers)”
  • Demonstrate your ability to coordinate with engineering and quality teams to influence design decisions
    — “Coordinate with machining leadership, engineering, and quality so manufacturing constraints inform design earlier”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • leading a team of machining specialists
  • accelerating new product introduction
Typical background
5+ years of CNC machining experience

Skills & requirements

Required

CNC MachiningProcess ImprovementFirst-article QualityTeam LeadershipProcess Troubleshooting

Preferred

CNC ProgrammingCAM ExperiencePrecision Inspection

Stack & domain

CNC MachiningMacrosCAMCMMHeidenhainFanucWaveguideRFManufacturing

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

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.

SUPERVISOR, DEVELOPMENT MACHINING 

The Development Machining Supervisor will lead a highly experienced team of CNC specialists and machinists to develop and implement process improvements and facilitate quick turn single digit micron tolerance machined hardware. This role requires a high level of machining aptitude: the judgment to diagnose hard process problems, set a standard for first-article quality, and develop machinists who can do the same. The supervisor will run the department across 1st and 2nd shift, accelerate new product introduction, and drive yield, cycle time, cost, and floor-space improvements. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Lead and develop a team of machining specialists, machining technicians, and quality specialists across 1st and 2nd shift 

Set a high bar for machining aptitude on the floor: first-article discipline, process troubleshooting, and closing loops when parts or processes miss 

Stand up and run dedicated development CNC machines, CMM, and supporting processes so production CNC machines stay on rate work 

Deliver new product introduction, process development, and engineering test hardware on schedule 

Drive yield, cycle time, cost, and floor-space improvements and transfer proven processes into production 

Own development cell capacity, labor, and equipment configuration; forecast bottlenecks and remove blockers 

Manage schedules, timecards, and direct report performance across both shifts 

Ensure processes have accessible, correct documentation 

Set priorities and manage bandwidth so the cell hits the most impactful work 

Coordinate with machining leadership, engineering, and quality so manufacturing constraints inform design earlier 

Think creatively and question the status quo while following documentation and maintaining prescribed quality standards 

Implement machine maintenance schedules and spares so development CNC machines stay up 

Support vendor machining when it unblocks development or process transfer 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

5+ years of CNC machining experience 

Demonstrated high-level machining aptitude, including diagnosing and solving difficult machining and process problems 

1+ year of experience leading machinists, technicians, or a shop floor team 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

5+ years leadership experience in a machine shop setting 

Experience in a development, NPI, prototype, or process-improvement environment 

Demonstrated experience machining or troubleshooting single digit micron parts 

Advanced CNC programming experience, including macros 

CAM experience (NX or similar) 

Precision inspection experience (CMM and/or hand tools such as micrometers, calipers, and profilometers) 

Experience with Heidenhain, Fanuc, or similar CNC controls 

Experience with waveguide, RF, or similarly process-sensitive hardware 

Ability to travel to vendors and assist with solving high-level machining problems 

Experience with interdisciplinary project management 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Travel to vendor sites may be required 

Travel to launch and test sites may be required 

Willingness to support 1st and 2nd shift as the development cell stands up 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

$115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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