Manager, Supplier Quality

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