Supplier Quality Engineer

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 Manager of 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 be crucial in ensuring the consistent quality and reliability of the products and components we receive from our suppliers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Evaluating and onboarding new suppliers, ensuring they meet our quality expectations by conducting regular audits, assessments, and evaluations to ensure that our suppliers adhere to our quality standards.
• Assure supplier understanding of product and submission requirements.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with our suppliers, address any quality-related issues, identify risks in the supply chain, and implement improvements.
• Work collaboratively with design engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of piece part, assembly, and/or sub-system design intent.
• Work collaboratively with various departments across the business to strategically source parts matched with supplier competencies by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems.
• Setting and enforcing quality standards for incoming materials, components, and products.
• Conduct inspections, tests, and assessments to ensure that the products meet our specifications and are free from defects.
• Use expertise to contribute to the prevention of defects and non-conformities, ultimately reducing the likelihood of recalls and/or customer complaints.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, both internally and with our suppliers, by analyzing quality data, identifying trends, and implementing corrective and preventive actions to enhance the overall quality of our products and reduce costs.
• Create and define supplier technical and quality requirements based on customer and program requirements and expectations for NPI and manufacturing phases.
• Implement and monitor production part approval process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to enable rate manufacturing.
• Develop and approve process controls to regulate acceptance of critical characteristics.
• Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities and provide feedback as appropriate on manufacturing methods and technologies.
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends, pinpoint systemic performance gaps, and determine root causes in order to develop supplier improvement plans.
• Function as liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and suppliers to resolve supplier quality issues and to provide technical support.
• Drive supplier corrective actions associated with any escapes or contaminants identified in Vast manufacturing or the Vast supply chain.
• Demonstrate autonomy, innovation, technical excellence, and attention to detail.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or supply chain or 5+ years of experience in supplier quality.
• 3+ years of manufacturing, mechanical, supply chain, or business management experience.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in engineering, business, or supply chain.
• 5+ years of experience with mechanical assemblies, materials and processes.
• 1+ years of experience with optical systems.
• In-depth understanding of aerospace industry regulations and standards.
• Experience managing external suppliers.
• Strong negotiating skills to drive preferred pricing and results.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9000 / AS9100 / NADCAP).
• Knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAI reports, etc.).
• Experience in statistical controls and methods (e.g. MSA, GR&R, Design of Experiments, Six Sigma, etc.).
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment.
• Effective written, verbal and presentation communication skills.

ADDITION 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.

Salary Range: California

$84,200—$131,900 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 15 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.