Senior Supplier Reliability Engineer

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Senior/Staff Supplier Reliability Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager of Supplier Reliability, to support the development of 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. In this role, you will be crucial in ensuring the consistent quality and reliability of the products and components we receive from our suppliers.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate and onboard new suppliers. Run regular audits, assessments, and evaluations to confirm they meet Vast's quality standards
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships. Address quality issues, identify supply chain risks, and implement improvements
• Work with design and manufacturing engineers to understand the design intent of piece parts, assemblies, and subsystems
• Run design-for-manufacturability reviews early, ideally before sourcing
• Work with procurement to source parts strategically by assessing supplier manufacturing processes, inspection practices, and quality systems
• Drive continuous improvement with suppliers and internally. Analyze quality data, identify trends, and implement corrective and preventive actions that improve quality and reduce cost
• Define supplier technical and quality requirements from customer and program requirements for NPI and production
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to find trends and systemic performance gaps, and build supplier improvement plans
• Lead root cause and corrective action for any escapes or nonconformances found in Vast manufacturing or the Vast supply chain
• Show a strong sense of ownership, technical excellence, initiative, and attention to detail

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Materials, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 5+ years in reliability, process, or quality engineering in a production environment, with hands-on RCCA on product or process issues
• Working knowledge of manufacturing and special processes, failure mechanisms, and inspection or NDE methods
• Experience reading and applying industry specifications and drawing requirements

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• A proven record of taking RCCAs to verified closure and influencing suppliers to get results
• Hands-on failure analysis experience
• Working knowledge of quality systems (ISO 9000, AS9100, NADCAP) and supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAI)
• Familiarity with aerospace specifications for special processes, inspection, and process control
• Experience applying statistical methods (MSA, DOE, hypothesis testing, Cpk) and structured problem solving (8D, fault tree, Ishikawa, Six Sigma)
• Experience with additive manufacturing, welding, fracture mechanics, or damage tolerance
• Experience with MES and PLM systems, plus Google Suite, SQL, and Python
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment and across many functions
• Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain technical findings to all levels of Vast and the supply base

Additional Requirements:

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

Pay Range: California $123,000 — $230,000 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base 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: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The 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.