Supplier Quality Engineer (Mechanical)

Astranis; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Astranis is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to drive our vendor base toward ZERO defects and to scale production at suppliers globally. You will qualify vendors, lead design for manufacturing reviews, and establish critical phase gates for new product introductions to ensure extreme reliability in satellite manufacturing.

The role requires travel to supplier sites (40%+), technical collaboration with internal and external teams, and development of IQC procedures for thermal,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Materials/Physics or similar technical field.
• 3+ years experience in manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, or supply chain engineering.
• Background in GD&T, mechanical and thermal engineering, and manufacturing processes (CNC, forging, welding, assembly).
• Ability to work extended hours and travel 40%+ of the time, as needed to meet critical deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Define product specifications – raw material, testing and inspection, GD&T/CMM, and workmanship – in collaboration with Product Engineering
• Establish and execute vendor qualification processes from onsite audits, technical assessments, through qualification builds
• Lead Design For Manufacturing (DFM) reviews and feedback. Become the main vendor's manufacturing and quality point of contact
• Establish phase gates at suppliers for new product introduction – Critical Design Review (CDR), Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR)
• Develop Incoming Quality Control (IQC) – inspection procedures for thermal, electromechanical assemblies, RF passives, and metal-machined components; as well as supplier documentation (Certificates of Conformance and End Item Data Package) reviews
• Spearhead root cause analysis and corrective actions with the vendors and qualify dispositions (rework, repair, re-build)

Skills

Vendor qualification

DFM reviews

Quality engineering

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Materials/Physics

Tools

GD&T/CMM

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Supplier Quality Engineer

As a Supplier Quality Engineer, you will be responsible for successful driving our vendor base to a ZERO defects and scale Astranis production at suppliers as we build our satellite manufacturing business. The Supplier Quality team is responsible for supplier identification, qualification, ongoing development, and corrective action. The job involves technical communication with internal and external teams, traveling to suppliers in different regions, and on-the-spot critical decision making. This role is critical to expanding our manufacturing capability while ensuring extreme reliability to make Astranis a world-class satellite manufacturing company.

Role

• Define product specifications – raw material, testing and inspection, GD&T/CMM, and workmanship – in collaboration with Product Engineering
• Establish and execute vendor qualification processes from onsite audits, technical assessments, through qualification builds
• Lead Design For Manufacturing (DFM) reviews and feedback. Become the main vendor's manufacturing and quality point of contact
• Establish phase gates at suppliers for new product introduction – Critical Design Review (CDR), Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR)
• Develop Incoming Quality Control (IQC) – inspection procedures for thermal, electromechanical assemblies, RF passives, and metal-machined components; as well as supplier documentation (Certificates of Conformance and End Item Data Package) reviews
• Spearhead root cause analysis and corrective actions with the vendors and qualify dispositions (rework, repair, re-build)

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Material Science/Physics or similar technical field
• 3+ years experience in manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, or supply chain engineering
• Background in GD&T, mechanical and thermal engineering, and manufacturing processes (CNC, forging, welding, assembly)
• Ability to work extended hours and travel 40%+ of the time, as needed to meet critical deadlines

Bonus

• Experience in aerospace manufacturing or automotive manufacturing – AS9100, IAFT 16949, Quality Management Systems
• Statistical tools domain – Cpk & Ppk, SPC), DOE, and GR&R
• Experience in electronics manufacturing – PCBA and Harnesses (IPC 600, IPC 610, and IPC 620)

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

$100,000 - $150,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

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