Supplier Quality Engineer

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station.

Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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 Senior Manager of Supplier Quality and Materials & Processes, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

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.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

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.

* Establish and maintain strong relationships with our suppliers, address any quality-related issues, identify risks in the supply chain, and implement improvements.

* Collaborate with design, and manufacturing engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of piece part, assembly, and/or sub-system design intent.

* Collaborate with procurement teams to strategically source parts by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes, inspection practices, and quality systems.

* 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.

* Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends, pinpoint systemic performance gaps, and develop supplier improvement plans.

* Conduct design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews to ensure parts are manufacturable at early stages, preferably prior to sourcing.

* Lead root cause and corrective action process associated with any escapes or contaminants identified in Vast manufacturing or the Vast supply chain.

* Collaborate with teams, lead projects, and continuously drive improvement in the supply base.

* Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, technical excellence, proactivity, and attention to detail.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or other engineering discipline.

* 4+ years of experience with manufacturing and/or inspection of mechanical products in a production environment.

Preferred

Skills & Experience:

* Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or other engineering discipline.  

* 5+ years of experience with manufacturing, process, reliability, or design engineering.

* Proven track record of taking ownership in projects, performing root-cause analysis and corrective actions, and influencing suppliers to drive results.

* Solid understanding and application of GD&T.

* 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…