Certified FAA Parachute Rigger - Contractor

Certified FAA Parachute Rigger - Contractor

Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, part-time contractor position) 

Outpost is building the return lane from space. We’re developing reusable vehicles that bring payloads home from orbit safely and precisely, enabling faster in-space manufacturing, global delivery, and entirely new capabilities in the space economy. 

We’re a mission-driven team that cares deeply about the work and the people doing it. We are in an exciting stage of growth, which means ownership from day one. Our engineers design hardware, test it, iterate on it, and watch it move toward flight. We are based in the aerospace hub of Playa Vista, where you can spend your days solving complex problems and your evenings on the beach or in the mountains. The work is meaningful, the team is collaborative, and the mission matters. If you want to see the systems you design make it to orbit—and back—come build with us. 

The Role 

We’re looking for a skilled and detail-oriented Certified FAA Parachute Rigger to support the assembly, packing, inspection, and testing of Outpost’s atmospheric recovery systems. This is a hands-on, contracted technician role, focused on the consistent, repeatable, and safe deployment of our parachute and paraglider systems. 

The ideal candidate has a strong background in parachute rigging - whether through the FAA, military service, skydiving operations, or aerospace recovery systems - and thrives in a fast-paced, quality-driven environment. You will collaborate closely with engineers to execute packing and rigging procedures, document best practices, validate materials, and contribute to a culture of quality and reliability. 

Responsibilities

• Pack, rig, and maintain Outpost’s parachute and paraglider systems according to engineering documentation and design specifications.
• Develop and maintain detailed packing documentation and process records.
• Perform inspections, quality control checks, and traceability documentation for soft goods and rigging materials.
• Support field testing operations (currently conducted in Mojave, CA) including on-site rigging, deployment setup, and post-test inspections.
• Validate incoming soft goods and components to ensure conformance with engineering and supplier specifications.
• Manage and track soft goods inventory, maintaining organized and auditable records.
• Collaborate with the engineering team to provide feedback from rigging and test operations that inform system reliability and process improvements.
• Promote and uphold a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the team. 

Qualifications 

• FAA Senior or Master Parachute Rigger certification or equivalent hands-on rigging experience (military, aerospace, or skydiving operations).
• Demonstrated experience with parachute or canopy systems (packing, inspection, and maintenance).
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to precision and repeatability.
• Experience working from engineering drawings, technical procedures, and safety documentation.
• Ability to work hands-on in both shop and field environments, including travel to testing locations
• Comfortable working in an early-stage startup environment where flexibility and collaboration are key. 

Compensation

• Hourly rate will vary with experience
• Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee 

You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 ,or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State