Component Engineer

Job Summary

The Component Engineer is a multidisciplinary role that supports research and hardware development by leading parts control activities across a wide range of projects, from early technology demonstrations to the delivery of spaceflight instrumentation. The role integrates component engineering and parts management to bring consistency, traceability, and structure to the end‑to‑end hardware development process. Reporting to the Materials & Process Lead, the Component Engineer works closely with Systems Engineering and Quality Assurance, and collaborates cross‑functionally with Engineering, Safety & Mission Assurance, and Fabrication.

• Maintain supplier/vendor lists for parts and processes.
• Serve as customer and supplier point of contact for parts and materials (e.g., NASA, JPL, SwRI, APL).
• Generate and manage Requests for Quotes (RFQs) for PCB fabrication/assembly, mechanical parts, EEE components, and special processes.
• Provide budgetary estimates and support cost planning for proposal responses and new business development.
• Create and process purchase requests in accordance with lab procedures.
• Drive standardization across SPRL and key suppliers to reduce variability and improve reliability.
• Act as SPRL representative for the Government‑Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP).
• Serve as a point of contact for NASA Problem Advisories and distribute advisories and reports to impacted departments and stakeholders.
• Identify and propose alternative components/materials and coordinate substitutions as needed.
• Manage lab stock parts/materials and project‑specific inventory.
• Perform limited shelf‑life item audits, monitoring, and disposition support.
• Establish a system for consumables and COTS inventory to support uninterrupted fabrication and testing (e.g., kanban, Six Sigma).
• Develop BOMs for EEE assemblies including alternative part selections.
• Facilitate Parts Control Board (PCB) reviews, including agenda preparation, coordination, and documentation/recordkeeping.
• Provide fabrication support: kit, label, and release parts in accordance with kitting and traceability requirements for all SPRL engineering and flight projects.
• Investigate and resolve standard‑part issues impacting manufacturing; maintain awareness of technical and business conditions affecting standard‑part availability, risk, and obsolescence.
• Support conceptual and layout design phases with standard‑parts expertise.
• Maintain the standard parts library/tooling for fast identification and selection.

• Formal training in an engineering field or 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and hands‑on management skills.
• Working knowledge of electrical assembly components (EEE‑related).
• Experience in the electronics industry and/or student engineering projects.

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field, plus 2+ years of industry experience.
• Working knowledge of EEE part selection, screening, qualification, and derating requirements for space applications.
• Experience with purchasing and inventory control systems/processes (e.g., TRAX, ERP, MRP).
• Experience with PCB design software (Altium).
• Experience with electrical and mechanical design software (Inventor, Solid Works).
• Familiarity with ESD Safety Standards, NASA Design/Quality, or IPC standards is ideal.

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.