About the role
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. GLOBAL SUPPLY MANAGER, DATACENTER SWITCHES AND OPTICS (STARLINK) We are seeking an experienced Global Supply Manager to own end-to-end sourcing strategy, supplier management, and delivery of leading-edge datacenter switches and optics spanning 400G through 1.6T (and beyond). In this role, you will partner directly with responsible engineers to define commodity strategy, build the commodity roadmap, establish and maintain the approved vendor list, and secure supply at the insane world-class build speeds the SpaceX team is driving. You will negotiate high-impact agreements, accelerate delivery timelines, actively manage inventory, and continuously optimize for cost, quality, speed, and supply chain resilience, in one of the fastest-moving AI infrastructure programs on the planet. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguous, high-velocity environments, possesses strong commercial acumen, and has a proven track record delivering results in hyperscale networking hardware procurement.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Partner deeply with responsible engineers, silicon architects, and network teams to co-define commodity strategy, multi-year technology roadmaps, and approved vendor lists for switches and optics (400G–1.5T and next-generation architectures) Own global sourcing end-to-end, including aggressive supplier qualification, dual/ multi-sourcing strategies, and performance management to deliver unprecedented on-time delivery and lead-time compression while supporting SpaceX's record-breaking cluster build cadence Negotiate transformative commercial agreements that include not only pricing and volume, co-development commitments, early access to pre-production silicon/optics, and priority allocation during industry shortages Deploy predictive analytics, AI-driven demand forecasting, and real-time supply chain visibility tools to anticipate and mitigate risks, (geopolitical, capacity, yield, or technology transition) before they impact build schedules Drive continuous cost leadership through value engineering, should-cost modeling, and long-term pricing agreements while maintaining or exceeding the highest quality and reliability standards required for SpaceX training clusters Lead supplier innovation programs, challenge and collaborate with vendors on custom form factors, power-efficient designs, higher-density optics, and open standards that accelerate SpaceX's hardware roadmap and reduce total cost of ownership Build and maintain a world-class supply base through strategic relationships, regular executive business reviews, and joint development projects that position SpaceX as the preferred partner for cutting-edge networking hardware Establish clear KPIs for cost, quality, speed, and resilience that are reviewed weekly with leadership Act as a force multiplier across the organization by mentoring cross-functional teams on supply chain best practices and fostering a culture of ownership, speed, and technical depth BASIC