Logistics Associate

Detroit Venture Partners, LLC.; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Equity opportunities

Hybrid work environment

Unlimited PTO

Health benefits

Cutting-edge tools

Mission-driven culture

Inclusive team

Job summary

Observable Space is hiring a Logistics Associate to coordinate the movement of materials, components, and finished systems across domestic and international shipments. You’ll work with carriers, freight forwarders, suppliers, customers, and internal teams from planning through delivery, building scalable processes as we expand worldwide.

This role blends manufacturing, supply chain, and customer delivery, requiring strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving to keep

Qualifications

• Experience in logistics, transportation, freight, shipping, supply chain coordination, or a similar role.
• Experience coordinating domestic shipments; exposure to international shipping and customs documentation is strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple shipments and priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly when preparing and reviewing shipping and customs documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems, adapt quickly when plans change, and drive issues through resolution.
• Comfort working with ERP systems, shipping platforms, spreadsheets, and other logistics tools.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate domestic and international inbound and outbound shipments with carriers, freight forwarders, suppliers, customers, and internal teams.
• Manage shipments from initial planning through final delivery, ensuring materials and systems arrive where they need to be, when they need to be there.
• Coordinate inbound shipments of materials and components from suppliers to support manufacturing schedules.
• Coordinate outbound shipments of finished systems, equipment, spare parts, and other materials to customers and deployment sites.
• Track multiple active shipments and proactively communicate status, delays, and changes to relevant stakeholders.
• Troubleshoot transportation delays, missed deliveries, damaged shipments, and other logistics issues through resolution.
• Prepare and maintain shipping documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and customs documentation.
• Coordinate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other partners to support international shipments and customs clearance.
• Coordinate customs and commercial documentation for equipment traveling with Field Support/Services personnel, including tools, spare parts, and replacement or warranty items
• Gather and verify shipment information needed for import and export requirements
• Maintain accurate and complete shipment records and supporting documentation
• Escalate complex customs, regulatory, or international shipping issues when additional expertise is required
• Maintain accurate logistics trackers and systems so internal teams have visibility into shipment status and upcoming deliveries
• Coordinate closely with Manufacturing, Sales, Sourcing, Field Support, and Marketing to align shipments with production and customer requirements
• Review freight costs and support efforts to improve shipping efficiency, cost, and reliability
• Help develop and improve standard logistics processes, documentation, and workflows as the company scales
• Provide additional logistics and supply chain support as priorities evolve

Skills

Logistics coordination

Shipping documentation

Customs documentation

ERP systems

Attention to detail

Communication

Tools

ERP systems

Shipping platforms

Spreadsheets

Job description

About Observable Space

At Observable Space, we're redefining how humanity observes and connects with the universe. We're a vertically integrated, high-growth, space technology company building industry-leading precision optics platforms for Earth and in space. Our systems are trusted by thousands of customers, including NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force and the U.S. Department of War, leading research institutions and international partners.

We combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs into world class products at scale with in-house manufacturing. From advanced ground stations, on-orbit sensor suites, free space optical lasercom, to distributed compute platforms, we deliver the foundational systems enabling continuous, real-time navigation, observation, and communication in space.

Observable Space is backed by top-tier institutional investors including Lux Capital, Upfront Ventures, RTX Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners and Embedded Ventures. To learn more, visit observable.space.

About the Role

Observable Space is hiring a Logistics Associate to help manage the movement of materials, components, and finished systems across our growing operations. You’ll coordinate both inbound shipments from suppliers and outbound shipments of our systems and equipment to customers and sites across the U.S. and internationally.

This role sits at the intersection of manufacturing, supply chain, and customer delivery. You’ll own the day-to-day coordination of shipments from planning through delivery — working with carriers, freight forwarders, suppliers, customers, and internal teams; preparing required documentation; tracking shipments; and proactively resolving issues when plans change. As our operations expand into more customers, sites, and countries, you’ll help build the processes needed to make our logistics operations reliable and scalable.

What You’ll Do

Shipment Coordination

• Coordinate domestic and international inbound and outbound shipments with carriers, freight forwarders, suppliers, customers, and internal teams

• Manage shipments from initial planning through final delivery, ensuring materials and systems arrive where they need to be, when they need to be there

• Coordinate inbound shipments of materials and components from suppliers to support manufacturing schedules

• Coordinate outbound shipments of finished systems, equipment, spare parts, and other materials to customers and deployment sites

• Track multiple active shipments and proactively communicate status, delays, and changes to relevant stakeholders

• Troubleshoot transportation delays, missed deliveries, damaged shipments, and other logistics issues through resolution

International Shipping & Documentation

• Prepare and maintain shipping documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and customs documentation

• Coordinate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other partners to support international shipments and customs clearance

• Coordinate customs and commercial documentation for equipment traveling with Field Support/Services personnel, including tools, spare parts, and replacement or warranty items

• Gather and verify shipment information needed for import and export requirements

• Maintain accurate and complete shipment records and supporting documentation

• Escalate complex customs, regulatory, or international shipping issues when additional expertise is required

Logistics Operations

• Maintain accurate logistics trackers and systems so internal teams have visibility into shipment status and upcoming deliveries

• Coordinate closely with Manufacturing, Sales, Sourcing, Field Support, and Marketing to align shipments with production and customer requirements

• Review freight costs and support efforts to improve shipping efficiency, cost, and reliability

• Help develop and improve standard logistics processes, documentation, and workflows as the company scales

• Provide additional logistics and supply chain support as priorities evolve

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in logistics, transportation, freight, shipping, supply chain coordination, or a similar role

• Experience coordinating domestic shipments; exposure to international shipping and customs documentation is strongly preferred

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple shipments and priorities simultaneously

• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly when preparing and reviewing shipping and customs documentation

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to troubleshoot problems, adapt quickly when plans change, and drive issues through resolution

• Comfort working with ERP systems, shipping platforms, spreadsheets, and other logistics tools

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Who You Are

• Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple moving pieces at once

• Proactive — you track shipments closely, anticipate issues, and communicate before someone has to ask

• Detail-oriented and understand that small errors in shipping documentation can create significant delays

• Resourceful and calm when transportation, customs, or scheduling challenges arise

• A clear communicator who can work effectively with suppliers, carriers, customers, and internal teams

• Customer-focused and understand the importance of delivering on commitments

• Accountable and committed to following issues through to resolution

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Play a pivotal role in getting our systems and equipment to customers and sites around the world

What We Offer

• Competitive Compensation – A salary package aligned with industry standards and your experience.
• Equity Opportunities – Take part in our success with stock options.
• Flexible Work Environment – Enjoy working from our office or in a hybrid work setup with the flexibility to work remotely part of the week. We require a minimum of 3 days per week in our office to support collaboration and team culture. (LA Office only)
• Unlimited PTO (exempt only) – Take the time you need with our flexible, trust-based vacation policy, including paid holidays. We encourage everyone to rest, recharge, and take care of themselves.
• Health & Wellness – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the premium paid by the employer for employees.
• Cutting-Edge Tools – Get access to the latest hardware and software you need to do your best work.
• Mission-Driven Culture – Be part of a team working on meaningful challenges with real-world impact.
• Inclusive Team – We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued.

Observable Space is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.