V

VAST

Develops artificial gravity space stations

Buyer

Procurement & SourcingUpdated on Nov 10
Full-timeLong Beach, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

  • Level I requires 0–2 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or a related role; internships and co-ops are acceptable.
  • Level I requires a basic understanding of procurement processes, including RFQ and purchase order lifecycle, supplier communication, and lead times; familiarity with Incoterms is a plus.
  • Level I requires strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.
  • Level II requires a bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Level II requires 2–4+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or manufacturing operations.
  • Level II requires experience supporting supplier selection, RFQ/RFP cycles, negotiations, and purchase order placement.
  • Applicants should be comfortable managing multiple priorities with ambiguous inputs and shifting timelines.
  • Applicants should have strong organizational skills and be able to make sound decisions with limited information.
  • Applicants must be willing to travel up to 20% and work evenings and/or weekends as needed to support critical mission milestones.

Responsibilities

  • Support end-to-end sourcing activities for assigned commodities and categories, from demand identification through supplier selection and purchase order placement.
  • Conduct ongoing market research to identify potential suppliers and subcontractors, assess their capabilities, and support RFQ/RFP execution.
  • Interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical specifications to ensure suppliers have the necessary capabilities.
  • Develop and optimize the supply base to meet long-term program needs.
  • Lead source selection, negotiations, and contracting strategies aligned to program, customer, product, and in-service needs.
  • Own and maintain sourcing documentation, including RFQs/RFPs, bid analyses, supplier records, and purchase orders in ERP systems.
  • Track supply and demand signals and coordinate with planning and program teams to support schedule alignment and on-time delivery.
  • Partner with quality, engineering, manufacturing, finance, legal/contracts, and program management to support supplier performance in quality, delivery, and cost.
  • Support supplier performance management and continuous improvement efforts, including corrective actions and recovery plans as needed.
  • Identify cost and lead-time opportunities through basic cost analysis, pricing reviews, and value-focused sourcing recommendations.
  • Operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities, high accountability, and cross-functional collaboration across all levels.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience creating or updating RFPs/RFQs, purchase orders, and work orders within an ERP system such as SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite.
  • Ability to analyze quotes and build basic cost/price comparisons; familiarity with bills of materials (BOMs).
  • Exposure to manufacturing and/or aerospace supply chains is strongly preferred.
  • Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, quality, operations, planning, contracts/legal, and finance.
  • Comfort working in a high-intensity environment supporting critical mission milestones.

About the Company

VAST

Develops artificial gravity space stations

Vast Space builds artificial gravity space stations to enable long-term human life in space. Its approach uses large rotating habitats that generate centrifugal force to mimic Earth's gravity, helping astronauts stay healthy during extended missions. The company designs, tests, demonstrates, services, and manufactures space infrastructure and customizable habitat modules for government space agencies, private aerospace companies, and research institutions that operate in lunar, Martian, or deep-space missions. Unlike others, Vast Space focuses on end-to-end artificial gravity solutions and ongoing support, not just concepts, and targets contracts that provide sustainable space habitats for science, exploration, and colonization efforts. The overall goal is to expand humanity’s reach across the solar system by creating scalable, gravity-enabled habitats that enable safe, long-term presence in space while protecting Earth's ecosystem.

Company size
501-1,000
Company stage
Series A
Total funding
$500M
Headquarters
Long Beach, CA
Founded
2021

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