At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.
Vast is looking for a Supplier Quality Engineer, reporting to the Sr. Manager, Supplier Quality to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. In the role of Supplier Quality Engineer you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the consistent quality, reliability, and performance of products and components sourced from our suppliers, while driving continuous improvement and strategic alignment with our mission.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate and onboard new suppliers by conducting audits, assessments, and process evaluations to ensure adherence to our quality standards.
- Ensure suppliers fully understand all contractual requirements and how to submit quality documentation through effective quality flow-down and targeted training.
- Set and enforce quality standards for incoming materials and products, implementing advanced quality planning tools (APQP, FAI) and production part approval processes (PPAP) to enable rate manufacturing.
- Conduct inspections, tests, and assessments to ensure that the supplier-produced material and products meet all specifications and are free from defects.
- Develop, validate, and approve supplier process controls to ensure consistent adherence to critical product characteristics, including tolerances, material properties, and functional attributes.
- Monitor and analyze supplier performance metrics (quality, delivery, lead time) to identify trends and implement systemic improvements.
- Conduct root cause analysis for supplier escapes or contaminants, driving corrective and preventive actions to resolution.
- Develop and implement supplier technical and quality requirements based on customer and program requirements and expectations for New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing phases.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure supplier alignment with piece part, assembly, and sub-system design intent, incorporating Design for Manufacturing (DFM) feedback.
- Interpret and analyze engineering drawings and specifications, including GD&T, to ensure supplier understanding and compliance with dimensional and functional requirements.
- Work collaboratively with various departments to strategically source parts by reviewing supplier manufacturing capabilities and competencies for commodities such as composites, precision machining, additive manufacturing, fabrication, avionics, and hardware.
- Use data and identify trends to drive continuous improvement initiatives internally and externally to reduce quality risks and improve supplier reliability.
- Proactively assess and mitigate risks in the supply chain, including capacity, capability, and compliance risks.
- Act as a liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to address technical challenges, resolve quality issues, and support supplier development.
- Demonstrate autonomy, innovation, technical excellence, and attention to detail.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science, or a related field.
- Knowledge of quality tools and processes including APQP, FMEA, FAI, PPAP, and SPC.
- Experience with quality and manufacturing related processes.
- Ability to read and understand engineering drawings and specifications, including GD&T.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Supply Chain
- 3+ years of experience in supplier quality, supplier development, or manufacturing
- In-depth understanding of aerospace industry regulations and quality standards, including ISO 9001, AS9100, and NADCAP.
- Experience in developing and managing external suppliers.
- Demonstrated ability to lead supplier process improvement initiatives
- Proven ability to balance tactical quality assurance tasks with strategic supplier development.
- Experience in statistical controls and methods (e.g. control charts, capability analysis, design of experiments, etc.)
- Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment.
- Effective written, verbal and presentation communication skills.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
- Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
Pay Ranges:
- $126,000 - $154,000
Salary Range: California
$126,000—$154,000 USD
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.
What We Do
Vast is developing artificial gravity space stations to expand humanity across the solar system.
Vast’s mission is to enable large populations of humans to live and work in space, permanently.
Our solar system has the resources and room for humanity to thrive and expand without destroying Earth’s biosphere. Unlocking these resources requires in-space infrastructure and industry at an unprecedented scale.
We are building a world-class team to engineer the human experience in space.
Why Work With Us
We're developing artificial gravity space stations to expand humanity across the solar system in order to enable large populations to live and work in space. Not only is what we're working on groundbreaking, but the team prides itself on living by our values of respect, curiosity, action, and excellence making it a lot more fun to achieve our goal.
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