Manager, Supplier Reliability

At Vast our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental hardware-rich and low-cost approach Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demos 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 worlds first commercial space station when it launches followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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 Reliability reporting to the Director of Build & Supplier Reliability to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This role will lead a team of Supplier Reliability Engineers responsible for ensuring suppliers are capable controlled and prepared to support the build of human-rated space station hardware. The Supplier Reliability Manager will drive supplier readiness resolve supplier-related risks and ensure supplier performance supports integration test and flight milestones.

This will be a full-timeexempt position located in our Long Beachlocation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a team of Supplier Reliability Engineers establishing clear ownership by commodity or program and building the capability needed to support current and future vehicle production
• Own supplier reliability outcomes across assigned commodities ensuring stable supplier performance reduced escapes and readiness to support build integration and flight schedules
• Develop and mature the people processes and systems required to move from reactive issue resolution to proactive supplier development including supplier qualification onboarding performance management and production readiness
• Drive implementation of transparent supplier metrics scorecards and review mechanisms and use data to identify risk early prioritize work and improve supplier quality and delivery performance
• Partner with Engineering Manufacturing Supply Chain and Mission Assurance to align supplier requirements qualification methods and acceptance criteria ensuring suppliers are capable before hardware is released to build
• Lead supplier selection qualification and capability assessments expanding and strengthening the qualified supply base across key commodities
• Oversee investigation and resolution of supplier nonconformances and delivery disruptions ensuring timely root cause corrective action and verification of effectiveness
• Standardize supplier qualification audit and production validation methods to support consistent execution across programs and suppliers
• Ensure supplier performance data qualification status and risk visibility are accessible and usable by program engineering and procurement leadership
• Travel to supplier sites as required to support qualification audits readiness reviews investigations and recovery efforts

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering or a related technical field
• Experience leading a team of engineers
• Experience working with suppliers manufacturing and hardware development in aerospace automotive or other complex hardware environments
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings specifications and test or inspection requirements
• Experience investigating hardware process or supplier-related issues and driving problems to resolution
• Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to work with engineering manufacturing supply chain and external suppliers
• Willingness to travel to supplier sites as needed

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience supporting flight hardware space systems launch vehicles aviation automotive or other high-reliability products. Familiarity with special processes such as welding machining coatings composites electronics or complex assemblies.
• Experience with supplier qualification audits production readiness reviews or new product introduction. Experience with APQP PPAP PFMEA Control Plans or similar production validation methods.
• Experience developing supplier metrics scorecards or performance management systems. Experience building or improving processes tools or systems in a growing or fast-paced production environment
• Experience driving root cause and corrective action with external suppliers using structured problem-solving methods
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma or structured problem-solving methods (Black Belt certification is a plus)
• Experience in startup rapid development or production ramp environments

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

Pay Range:

• Manager Supplier Reliability: $143500 - $203700
• Senior Manager Supplier Reliability: $164000 - $232800

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY