Elon Musk's company recruits engineers in Vietnam
On the LinkedIn page on August 11, SpaceX posted information recruiting Supplier Development Engineer (Starlink) in Vietnam, focusing on developing and managing suppliers involved in manufacturing terminal equipment for the Starlink satellite Internet system. The recruitment news appeared two days before SpaceX began deploying Starlink in Vietnam.
Starlink uses a network of low-orbit satellites to deliver low-latency broadband Internet service. The system is designed to bring connectivity to areas underserved by traditional Internet infrastructure, including rural areas or where existing service is expensive and unreliable.
In Vietnam, from August 13, users can register for Starlink and buy a terminal to connect to the satellite network, with prices starting from 1.13 million VND per month.
The open position is not focused on operating Internet services for end users but is related to hardware manufacturing. According to the description, the engineer will be in charge of supplier development, from process construction and testing to mass production.
Specifically, Supplier Development Engineer targets stages including complete assembly, testing and packaging (Final Assembly, Test and Packout) for Starlink devices. "You will play a key role in ensuring quality, reliability and scalability of terminal manufacturing at global suppliers," the job posting reads.
According to the job description, engineers need to meet the basic requirements of a university degree in engineering or STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and at least one year of experience related to supply chain, supplier development, quality management or production and design.
One of the main tasks is to plan and lead tests to evaluate production capabilities, model line capacity, optimize the rate of qualified products and analyze data to reduce fluctuations in the production process. Engineers also monitor progress at suppliers, handle critical technical issues, and assess readiness before increasing production.
The company prioritizes people who have worked in the field of electronic circuit board (PCBA) manufacturing and electronic component assembly (SMT) processes, such as printing solder paste, placing components on circuit boards, heat soldering, wave soldering, and product quality inspection. Preference will be given to those with many years of relevant experience.
Salaries and number of engineers are not announced. According to information on the platform, after two days, more than 100 people applied.
According to some experts in the field, SpaceX may want to expand its equipment supply chain in Vietnam in addition to providing services. This is also the position that companies like Apple were looking for many years ago, when expanding their domestic supply chain like today.
In 2024, SpaceX also said it intends to invest 1.5 billion USD in Vietnam. In the recruitment notice, the company mentions that engineers in this position will have to spend "50% of their weekly working time with suppliers within Vietnam".
Luu Quy