Quality Inspection Specialist

Vast; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 56,481 - 85,411; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous paid time off

Company equity

ClassPass credits

Personalized mental healthcare

Free snacks and drinks

Subsidized lunch

Job summary

Vast, located in Hawthorne, CA, is seeking a Quality Inspection Specialist to join their team in creating high-performance engines for small launchers. The role involves defining quality methodologies, performing inspections, and improving processes to enhance product quality. Applicants should have over 5 years of experience in quality engineering or related roles, with expertise in tools like AS9100 and statistical methods. The position offers comprehensive benefits including 100% medical coverage and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Experience in quality, manufacturing, or responsible engineer role required.
• Certified Black / Green belt in lean and Six-sigma quality engineering methodologies preferred.
• Experience in statistical controls and methods appreciated.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute quality methodologies to support product traceability.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to review designs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on quality data.

Skills

Hands on dimensional inspection skills

CMM programming skills

Expert knowledge in GD&T

Proficient in Blueprint Reading

Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment

Effective written and presentation communication skills

Education

5+ years experience with demand fast paced company

Tools

AS9100

CMM

Quality Management Systems (ISO 9000)

Job description

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 Demo’s 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 world’s 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 Quality Inspection Specialist, reporting to the E‑2 Principal Engineer, to create the world's highest performing engine for small launchers, while optimizing for production and low cost. In this role, you will join a team with exciting momentum that has produced and successfully tested fully integrated engine development samples. You will be a key member who will help transition the system from development to production.

This will be a full‑time, non‑exempt position located in our Hawthorne location.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute quality methodologies to support full product traceability
• Hands on dimensional inspection skills using mechanical tools
• CMM programming skills
• Collaborate with responsible engineers, manufacturing engineers and technicians to review designs and drawings
• Assess, define, improve and communicate in‑house inspection capabilities
• Identify and track manufacturing non‑conformities and proactively work with manufacturing and engineering to address them
• Develop, approve and execute process inspection controls to regulate acceptance of critical characteristics.
• Use expertise to contribute to the prevention of defects and non‑conformities, ultimately reducing the likelihood of recalls and/or customer complaints.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing quality data, identifying trends, and implementing corrective and preventive actions to enhance the overall quality of our products and reduce costs.
• Create and define technical and quality requirements based on customer and program requirements and expectations for NPI and manufacturing phases.
• Effectively apply root cause analysis, FMEA, Cause Mapping, Cause & Effect diagrams and structured RCCA to drive corrective action.
• Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities and provide feedback as appropriate on manufacturing methods and technologies.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years experience with demand fast paced company working on quality, manufacturing or responsible engineer role

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Expert knowledge and experience in GD&T, CMM, MSA, Tooling, AS9100, AS9102, AS9103.
• Proficient in Blueprint Reading and First Article Inspection (FAI) and interpretation of Engineering Process Specifications.
• Certified Black / Green belt lean and Six‑sigma quality engineering methodologies.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9000 / AS9100 / AS6500 / NADCAP).
• Experience in statistical controls and methods (e.g. MSA, GR&R, Design of Experiments, Six Sigma, etc.).
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment.
• Effective written, verbal and presentation communication skills.
• Experience with NDT.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted.

Pay Range

• Quality Inspection Specialist I: $41.00 - $59.00
• Quality Inspection Specialist II: $45.00 - $62.00

Pay Range: California $41—$62 USD

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full‑time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non‑exempt staff with the ability to cash‑out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high‑quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R.

• 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.