Supplier Reliability Engineer - Metallic Materials & Processes Verified today

About Vast

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Haven Demo achieved operational status in 2025, making Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Haven-1 is expected to launch in 2027 as the world's first commercial space station, followed by additional modules. Vast also recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging space station components.

The Role

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Long Beach, California, reporting to the Senior Manager of Supplier Reliability. You will ensure consistent quality and reliability of metallic materials and components received from suppliers for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and onboard new suppliers through regular audits, assessments, and evaluations to ensure adherence to quality standards
• Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships, address quality issues, identify supply chain risks, and implement improvements
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to understand piece part, assembly, and sub-system design intent; conduct design for manufacturing reviews prior to sourcing
• Work with procurement teams to strategically source parts by reviewing supplier manufacturing processes, inspection practices, and quality systems
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing quality data, identifying trends, and implementing corrective and preventive actions
• Create and define supplier technical and quality requirements for new product introduction and manufacturing phases
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify performance gaps and develop supplier improvement plans
• Lead root cause and corrective action process for escapes or contaminants identified in Vast manufacturing or supply chain
• Demonstrate strong ownership, technical excellence, proactivity, and attention to detail

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years in materials, process, or quality engineering for metal products in a production environment, with hands-on root cause and corrective action analysis on material or process issues
• Working knowledge of metallurgy, heat treatment, common metal defects, forging, extrusion, casting, welding, surface and finishing processes, or non-destructive examination
• Experience reading and applying AMS, ASTM, and drawing-callout requirements

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, or Engineering
• Proven record of owning root cause and corrective action analysis to verified closure and influencing suppliers to drive results
• Hands-on failure analysis: fractography, metallography, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
• Working knowledge of quality systems: ISO 9000, AS9100, NADCAP; and supplier quality processes: PPAP, APQP, FAI
• Familiarity with AMS-STD-2154, ASTM E2375, ASTM A388, ASTM E45, ASTM E112, AMS 2759, AMS 2750, AMS 2700, ASTM B912, MIL-A-8625, AMS 2430
• Experience applying statistical methods: measurement system analysis, design of experiments, hypothesis testing, process capability index; and problem solving methodologies: 8D, fault tree, Ishikawa, Six Sigma
• Experience with additive manufacturing, electron beam and fusion welding metallurgy, fracture mechanics, or damage tolerance
• Experience with manufacturing execution systems, product lifecycle management systems, Google suite, SQL, and Python
• Comfort working in fast-paced environment across matrix of functions
• Strong written and verbal communication to convey technical findings to all organizational levels

Additional Requirements

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

Compensation

Base salary range for California: $123,000 to $230,000 USD, based on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand.

Full-time employees receive company equity and comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, and vision coverage; 20+ days vacation for exempt staff with annual cash-out option; paid parental leave; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, and dinner; subsidized lunch.

Export Control Compliance

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62. This includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, and asylees and refugees with such status granted (not pending).