Quality Engineer

Space Kinetic; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Space Kinetic is seeking a Quality Engineer to ensure the successful development, integration, and delivery of spacecraft and flight hardware while building the Quality Management System (QMS) and aligning with AS9100 standards.

The role will partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations to design quality into products and processes from development through production, aiming for repeatability and mission readiness.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years of experience in aerospace, defense, or regulated manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of AS9100D and AS9102.
• Experience with inspection methods, GD&T, and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience with CAPA and root cause analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own quality for a major spacecraft program from development through production.
• Build, implement, and scale Space Kinetic’s Quality Management System (QMS).
• Support AS9100 implementation and certification for our first manufacturing process.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations to design quality into products and processes.
• Develop quality standards, processes, and controls for spacecraft and flight hardware.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Establish repeatable processes that enable consistent, high-quality production at scale.
• Ensure flight hardware meets quality, reliability, and mission‑readiness requirements.

Skills

Aerospace quality experience

AS9100D knowledge

CAPA & root cause analysis

Inspection methods & GD&T

Manufacturing documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

ERP

QMS

Electronic document control

Job description

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

What You’ll Do:

We are seeking a Quality Engineer to help ensure the successful development, integration, and delivery of spacecraft and flight hardware as well as build and scale our Quality Management System (QMS). This role serves as a technical partner throughout the product lifecycle, helping engineers design quality into our products rather than inspecting it in after the fact. This role will support the implementation and certification of our first manufacturing process to AS9100 standards while working side-by-side with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations. As we transition from building our first flight hardware to producing many vehicles, this engineer will own quality for one of our major space programs, driving the systems, processes, and standards needed to ensure every product is built to meet the demands of spaceflight. Success in this role means helping Space Kinetic move from proving we can build one exceptional vehicle to reliably produce many with consistent quality, repeatability, and mission readiness.

Job Responsibilities

• Own quality for a major spacecraft program from development through production.
• Build, implement, and scale Space Kinetic’s Quality Management System (QMS).
• Support AS9100 implementation and certification for our first manufacturing process.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations to design quality into products and processes.
• Develop quality standards, processes, and controls for spacecraft and flight hardware.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Establish repeatable processes that enable consistent, high-quality production at scale.
• Ensure flight hardware meets quality, reliability, and mission‑readiness requirements.

What It Takes:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field along with 3 –7 years of experience in aerospace, defense, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of AS9100D and AS9102.
• Experience with inspection methods, GD&T, and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience with CAPA and root cause analysis.

What We’d Love:

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or similar certification.
• Experience supporting precision machining or aerospace hardware.
• Knowledge of NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, ITAR, and export-controlled environments.
• Experience with ERP, QMS, and electronic document control systems.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in office and manufacturing environments.
• Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Stand and walk production areas as needed.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job‑related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

Pay Range

$120,000 - $160,000 USD