Head of Mission Assurance & Space Quality

Astra; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Astra in California seeks a Director of Quality and Mission Assurance to own reliability and risk management across space hardware programs. You will build and scale the quality organization, embedding mission success from design through delivery, with hands-on leadership in aerospace standards and proactive risk mitigation.

Lead the QMS program toward AS9100, oversee supplier quality, MRB and Lean Six Sigma, and mentor teams while engaging customers and government partners to ensure robust root

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or related technical field.
• 10+ years in quality and mission assurance within aerospace, defense, or space industries.
• Proven experience implementing a QMS, preferably in a manufacturing startup.
• Extensive knowledge of Mission Assurance concepts including risk management, reliability, and system safety.

Responsibilities

• Own the Mission Assurance strategy and risk assessments with engineering and program management.
• Implement a Design Assurance program ensuring quality, reliability, and safety in product design.
• Lead reliability engineering activities and the System Safety program to mitigate hazards.
• Head the Failure Review Board for significant anomalies and ensure robust corrective actions.
• Serve as independent reviewer for design reviews, test readiness, and program audits.

Skills

Risk management

Reliability engineering

System safety

QMS implementation

Lean Six Sigma

Leadership

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Astra in California seeks a Director of Quality and Mission Assurance to own reliability and risk management across space hardware programs. You will build and scale the quality organization, embedding mission success from design through delivery, with hands-on leadership in aerospace standards and proactive risk mitigation.

Lead the QMS program toward AS9100, oversee supplier quality, MRB and Lean Six Sigma, and mentor teams while engaging customers and government partners to ensure robust root