Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical (Aerospace): Defining and implementing supplier development strategies for high-power satellite platforms with an accent on supplier maturity and process improvement. Focus on managing PPAP, evaluating supplier quality performance, and ensuring compliance with aerospace quality standards.

Location: Los Angeles, CA. Must be a "U.S. Person" as defined by ITAR

Salary: $110,000 - $145,000 + equity

Company

A Series C space startup building the largest and highest-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.

What you will do

• Assess supplier capabilities and technologies to ensure successful execution of manufacturing requirements.
• Manage Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), rate, and reliability campaigns to enable production.
• Lead containments, issue ticket resolution, and supplier corrective action efforts.
• Evaluate supplier quality performance using scorecards and audits to ensure compliance with standards.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and procurement to define production roadmaps.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in a quality, reliability, supply chain, or engineering role.
• Strong understanding of quality standards and tools including ISO 9001, AS9100, and PPAP.
• Experience managing vendors, suppliers, and strategic technical partners.
• Must be a "U.S. Person" (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, etc.) due to ITAR export control regulations.
• Ability to travel 25-50% of the time.

Nice to have

• Expert level knowledge in mechanical commodities (machined parts, mechanisms, and composites).
• Knowledge of Lean concepts and experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) environments.
• Experience with root cause and corrective action activities.
• Proficiency with data analytics and SQL.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary with equity in the company.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Life insurance and other corporate perks.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced, groundbreaking space startup environment.