Supplier Development Engineer

Quantum Space; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Equity participation

Job summary

Quantum Space seeks a Supplier Development Engineer to ensure technical capability, quality, and performance of suppliers for the Ranger spacecraft program from Tulsa operations. You will qualify new suppliers, resolve quality and delivery challenges, and support supplier development initiatives as production scales.

You will collaborate with design, supply chain, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure suppliers deliver high-quality machined, welded, composite, and electromechanical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in supplier quality, supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or quality engineering.
• Experience with precision machining, welding, or composite manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Assess, qualify, and onboard suppliers for machined parts, weldments, tanks, composites, harnesses, and special processes.
• Lead supplier quality and delivery improvement: root cause, corrective action, and verification at supplier sites.
• Review supplier capabilities, capacity, and process controls against Ranger requirements and rate plans.
• Support first-article inspection, PPAP, and process qualification at suppliers.
• Partner with design engineering, supply chain, and quality to resolve drawing, specification, and manufacturability issues with suppliers.
• Conduct supplier audits and surveillance and maintain approved supplier status.
• Support make/buy analysis and transition of parts between suppliers and in-house production.
• Track supplier performance metrics and drive improvement plans.
• Support source selection and technical evaluation of bids.

Skills

Supplier development

Quality engineering

Manufacturing engineering

Root cause analysis

Strong communicator

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Supplier Development Engineer to support the Ranger spacecraft program by ensuring the technical capability, quality, and performance of suppliers responsible for manufacturing critical spacecraft hardware. In this role, you will qualify new suppliers, resolve quality and delivery challenges, and support supplier development initiatives as our Tulsa manufacturing operations scale toward rate production.

You will work closely with design engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure suppliers consistently deliver high-quality machined, welded, composite, and electromechanical components that meet program requirements. You will play a key role in evaluating supplier capabilities, improving manufacturing processes, and strengthening supplier performance to support spacecraft production and mission success.

This position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working directly with suppliers, solving complex manufacturing and quality challenges, and building strong partnerships that support reliable, scalable spacecraft production.

Where You'll Make an Impact

• Assess, qualify, and onboard suppliers for machined parts, weldments, tanks, composites, harnesses, and special processes
• Lead supplier quality and delivery improvement: root cause, corrective action, and verification at supplier sites
• Review supplier capabilities, capacity, and process controls against Ranger requirements and rate plans
• Support first-article inspection, PPAP, and process qualification at suppliers
• Partner with design engineering, supply chain, and quality to resolve drawing, specification, and manufacturability issues with suppliers
• Conduct supplier audits and surveillance and maintain approved supplier status
• Support make/buy analysis and transition of parts between suppliers and in-house production
• Track supplier performance metrics and drive improvement plans
• Support source selection and technical evaluation of bids

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in supplier quality, supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or quality engineering
• Experience with precision machining, welding, or composite manufacturing processes

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience in aerospace or defense supplier development and quality
• Experience with AS9100, AS9102 first-article inspection, PPAP, and supplier audits
• Experience with Nadcap special processes (heat treat, NDT, welding, coatings)
• Experience with GD&T, drawing interpretation, and manufacturability review
• Experience with structured problem solving (8D, 5 Whys, DMAIC) and statistical process control
• Experience helping suppliers scale capacity for rate production
• Experience with ERP and supplier quality management systems
• Strong communicator comfortable working on supplier shop floors

What You'll Get

• Ownership – Take responsibility for supplier development, qualification, and performance across critical spacecraft hardware and manufacturing processes supporting the Ranger program
• Innovation – Collaborate with suppliers and engineering teams to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities and scalable production processes for next-generation spacecraft technologies
• Impact – Play a direct role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and timely delivery of mission-critical spacecraft components supporting national security, civil, and commercial space missions
• Growth – Join a collaborative, fast-paced engineering and manufacturing team where you can expand your technical expertise, strengthen supplier partnerships, and help scale spacecraft production capabilities
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation.

Location: Tulsa, OK

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.