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 Manager, Supplier Quality, reporting to the Senior Vice President of Quality and Supply Chain, 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.
Responsibilities

• Develop a Vast Supplier Quality system, including but not limited to, development of requirements, processes, talent to ensure the highest quality of Vast products
• Development of data driven initiatives aimed at reductions of quality related disruptions, and fostering a culture that embraces the Vast Quality Standards
• Implement tools and processes to ensure suppliers improve on current products with robust plans and deliver first time quality to Vast program customers. This includes, but is not limited to, qualification of new suppliers for the program
• Investigate, evaluate, and resolve supplier quality problems and conducting audits, analyzing defect trends, and leading continuous improvement projects
• Develop, implement and conduct capability assessments that verify supplier qualifications, travel to assigned suppliers, perform onsite source inspections, and lead multiple projects to completion
• Develop and manage Vast supplier quality activities to ensure that suppliers' production and quality systems, special processes, products and services meet purchase contract requirements and applicable regulatory agency and government regulations
• Develops and executes business plans, policies and procedures and develops organizational and technical strategies to improve supplier performance
• Develops and maintains relationships and partnerships with customers, stakeholders, peers, partners, suppliers and direct reports
• Develop and implement supplier scorecards/metrics and analytical tools to quantify performance levels of individual suppliers and work with those suppliers to develop improvement plans to achieve 100% quality performance
• Evaluate and assess the impact of nonconforming product and suppliers’ corrective actions, including timely communication with the program team of both
• Perform Production Process Verifications (PPV's) at supplier locations and participate in PPAP review process and other aspects of APQP

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other engineering discipline
• Experience developing and leading a team of Supplier Quality Engineers.
• Work Experience with the manufacturing inspection and acceptance of hardware from multiple different manufacturing processes
• Ability to interpret drawing specifications and measurement data for components inclusive of mechanical tolerances, surface quality, surface finish/flatness/profile, centration, etc.
• Ability to interpret drawing specifications and measurement data for complex assemblies, manufacturing and testing
• Strong understanding of MIL STD, ANSI and ISO drawing standards
• Understanding of special processes per requirements, such as complex coatings, metallization, passivation, heat treatment, priming/painting and brazing
• Strong familiarity with mechanical and optical metrology, inspection tools, and gages
• Experience with product test, equipment and instrumentation and other common processes common in the Aerospace and Defense Industries
• Working knowledge of the principles and the purpose of a Quality Management System

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Proficient experience Product Production Line Validation, test, equipment, instrumentation and qualification of Mechanical and Fabricated products
• Experience with product test, equipment and instrumentation, knowledge of thermal processes, welding and brazing, finishes and coatings, nondestructive testing, fabrication, composites and other common processes common in the Aerospace and Defense Industries
• Familiarity with APQP and PPAP and process tools such as PFMEA and Control Plan
• Practical experience with Lean Manufacturing and Lean Six Sigma
• Green / Black Belt certification from a recognized organization

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted

Salary Range: California
$117,400—$168,900 USD
Compensation And BenefitsBase 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 STATUSThe 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 OPPORTUNITYVast 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.