Component Engineer
Listed on 2026-07-21
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Engineering
Quality Engineering, Mechanical Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Electrical Engineering
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 delivery of spaceflight instrumentation. By integrating component engineering and parts management, this position brings 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. The role establishes and maintains processes and procedures aligned with lab objectives and best practices, provides inventory controls, and supports Design Engineers with parts selection, sourcing, and procurement. The Component Engineer directly supports design and operations involving EEE parts, mechanical components, and consumable materials, with an emphasis on procurement oversight, traceability, configuration control, and mission/flight hardware readiness.
Responsibilities*Procurement Oversight (Parts and Materials) 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 in support of 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.
Quality Tracking & Reporting Act as SPRL representative for the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP). Serve as a point of contact for NASA Problem Advisories.
Distribute advisories and reports to impacted departments and stakeholders. Identify and propose alternative components/materials and coordinate substitutions as needed.
Inventory Control & Database Management 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, etc.).
Design Support BOM Development for EEE Assemblies including alternative part selections Facilitate Parts Control Board (PCB) reviews, including agenda preparation, coordination, and documentation/recordkeeping. Fabrication Support Kit, label, and release parts to fabrication 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.
Altium Parts Librarian / Standard Parts Stewardship Support conceptual and layout design phases with standard-parts expertise. Maintain the standard parts library/tooling for fast identification and selection.
Required Qualifications *- 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.
- Must be a U.S. citizen (or permanent green card holder) to comply with sponsor (NASA) regulations.
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 or other inventory control systems). 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…
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