Build Reliability Engineer - Fluid Systems

Responsibilities

• Own Build Reliability for avionics hardware and work centers, setting expectations for reliability, manufacturability, and build and flight readiness
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance leadership to ensure robust, scalable quality and verification plans across the product lifecycle, with lessons consistently carried across programs
• Ensure successful introduction of flight hardware by defining readiness criteria, including process qualification, manufacturability, and inspectability, and driving the retirement of build risks through production ramp-up
• Drive maturation of internal avionics production processes, ensuring documentation, equipment, tooling, process controls, data collection, and training support consistent and streamlined execution
• Ensure off-nominal work is performed and documented reliably. Partner with Mission Assurance to drive risk mitigations and steer response plans to severe issues. Provide leadership and technical direction for high-visibility issues, establishing recovery plans and aligning operations, quality, and engineering on execution
• Collect and analyze build data to identify risk and recurring issues. Lead build quality reviews, generate data-driven recommendations, and effectively influence partner teams to prioritize efforts that prevent escapes and improve reliability
• Lead containment and root-cause investigation of high-impact Avionics-related issues. Ensure implementation and verification of robust corrective actions that address root cause and systemic contributors across Vast
• Lead major cost of quality reduction initiatives through simplification of requirements, clearer design standards, streamlined inspection and process validation steps, and strengthened process controls

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field
• 2+ years of experience in manufacturing, design, quality, reliability, or related roles
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives
• Excellent communication and technical skills
• Masters Degree or higher
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Harness Manufacturing
• Avionics/Electromech Manufacturing
• Functional testing, pressure testing, environmental testing
• Proven track record of taking ownership in projects, performing root-cause analysis and corrective actions, and influencing suppliers to drive results
• Demonstrated ability to learn new tools, processes, and technical concepts quickly
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment and collaborate effectively across a matrix of functions across the organization
• Detail-oriented mindset, great organizational and project-management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of interfacing with and conveying concepts to all levels of Vast
• Experience in statistical controls and methods (e.g. MSA, DOE, hypothesis testing, etc.)
• Disciplined problem-solving approach (Six Sigma, 8D, etc.)
• Working knowledge of quality systems and standards (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.)
• Advanced degree in an engineering discipline
• Familiarity with industry standards relevant to solar arrays and avionics manufacturing, such as IPC 620 (harnesses), IPC 610 (electronic assemblies), NASA 8739.4 workmanship standards and launch requirements per SMC-S-016
• Ability to travel up to 5%
• Ability to support mission-critical events outside normal working hours
• Pay Range: California
• $112,340 — $195,552 USD
• We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.
• 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: 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.

Preferred Skills & Experience

Additional Requirements

• 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: 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred Skills & Experience