Sourcing Manager, Server Mechanicals, Cooling (Starlink)

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

SOURCING MANAGER SERVER MECHANICALS COOLING (STARLINK)

We are seeking a world-class Sourcing Manager to own end-to-end sourcing strategy supplier management and delivery of server-level mechanicals and cooling for SpaceXAI compute and network this role you will partner deeply with responsible engineers thermal engineers and server mechanical teams to define commodity strategy craft and optimize statements of work (SOW) aggressively challenge unnecessary specifications and costs and drive node-level hardware execution at extreme velocity and scale. You will elevate chassis cold-plate and thermal-component relationships into true strategic partnerships that deliver unprecedented on-time delivery quality cost efficiency and flexibility while powering SpaceXs record-breaking cluster deployment cadence. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in server mechanicals and component-level cooling thrives in high-ambiguity/high-velocity environments and turns the server thermal and mechanical supply base into a core competitive advantage and force multiplier for SpaceXs AI infrastructure leadership.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner deeply with responsible engineers thermal engineers and server mechanical teams to co-define commodity strategy multi-year technology roadmaps and approved vendor lists for server mechanics and cooling chassis lids bezels and GPU/accelerator trays; cold plates (CPU GPU HBM NIC switch ASIC); heat sinks vapor chambers and heat pipes; thermal interface materials (grease pads PCM); server fans and shrouds; node-level liquid loops (tubing fittings on-server manifolds dripless QDs); and retention hardware (GPU brackets CPU ILM/backplates DIMM clips NIC brackets) anticipating SpaceXAI TDP and density requirements 1224 months ahead
• Own global sourcing end-to-end for server mechanicals and cooling including supplier selection qualification of die-cast / stamped chassis cold-plate TIM and fan suppliers dual/multi-sourcing on constrained thermal SKUs capacity reservation and performance governance to achieve on-time delivery and continuous lead-time compression while supporting SpaceXs aggressive cluster build cadence
• Define and negotiate transformative SOWs and commercial agreements that rigorously challenge unnecessary specifications drive value engineering of chassis and cold-plate designs secure aggressive pricing dedicated tooling and capacity and flexibility without compromising thermal resistance leak and reliability standards required for SpaceX training clusters
• Drive continuous cost leadership through should-cost modeling of chassis cold plates TIM and fan assemblies; design-for-manufacturability and design-for-serviceability reviews; specification optimization; and long-term pricing agreements that meaningfully reduce total cost of ownership while accelerating time-to-scale
• Act as the supplier interface for all RFIs RFPs and RFQs; visit chassis cold-plate TIM and fan factories and accurately assess die-cast CNC skiving bonding leak-test TIM compounding and high-volume fan capability plus financial health and capacity before awarding NPI and production contracts
• Monitor global industry trends in accelerator cooling (direct-to-chip liquid cold-plate materials TIM reliability high-TDP air/hybrid) chassis architecture and quick-disconnect standards; partner with design teams to identify and mitigate sole-source allocation and long-lead tooling risk before it hits NPI or mass production
• Work with supply chain engineers and thermal engineers to develop requirements for both NPI and production phases; drive second-source strategies for cold plates TIM fans and QDs without compromising thermal performance or serviceability
• Standardize and automate NPI-to-mass-production processes implement inventory and WIP optimization models (including consignment and just-in-time tailored to SpaceXs build velocity) and establish clear KPIs for cost quality speed leak/thermal yield and resilience that are reviewed weekly with leadership
• Lead supplier innovation programs- challenge and collaborate with vendors on higher-performance cold plates lower-resistance TIM quieter/higher-pressure fans faster service loops and next-generation node-level liquid cooling that accelerate SpaceXs hardware roadmap and reduce total cost of ownership
• Present value propositions to executives including those related to contract award tooling cost reviews and critical server-thermal supply issues
• Build and maintain a world-class supply base through strategic relationships with chassis ODMs cold-plate and vapor-chamber specialists TIM suppliers fan OEMs and QD manufacturers; run executive business reviews and performance scorecards that position SpaceX as the preferred high-velocity partner

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree and 6 years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 9 years of experience working in one or more of the following in lieu of a degree:
  • Business
  • Manufacturing
  • Supply Chain
  • Engineering
• 4 years of experience in global supply chain commodity management or mechanical/thermal sourcing with a focus on server chassis cold plates TIM fans or node-level liquid cooling

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Deep technical understanding of server mechanicals (chassis trays retention hardware) and component-level cooling (cold plates heat sinks vapor chambers TIM fans on-server liquid loops and dripless QDs)
• Proven track record sourcing server mechanical or thermal commodities at hyperscale at server ODMs or at cooling-component suppliers (e.g. Aavid/Boyd CoolIT Delta Nidec 3M/Henkel TIM QD specialists)
• Hands-on familiarity with chassis drawings cold-plate stack-ups TIM application processes fan P-Q curves leak testing and the difference between server-level vs. rack-level vs. facility-level cooling scope
• Previous experience at hyperscalers leading ODMs Tier-1 CMs or AI infrastructure companies with aggressive scaling demands
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex SOWs challenging specifications and costs and delivering results in ambiguous high-velocity environments with extreme timelines and massive scale
• Experience reading technical drawings data sheets fabrication drawings BOMs and related files
• Strong negotiation analytical project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Familiarity with commodity management long-lead tooling roadmap planning and approved vendor list processes in a manufacturing context
• Passion for SpaceXs mission and excitement about enabling the fastest AI infrastructure builds on Earth

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to 25%) to support supplier factories audits and critical projects
• Ability to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet major cluster-deployment milestones
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment with rapidly evolving priorities and world-class execution speed
• This position is based in Austin TX and requires being onsite remote work not considered

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 SpaceXs Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to.