Build Reliability Engineer - Fluid Systems

Vast is looking for a Build Reliability Engineer (Fluid Systems), reporting to the Staff Build Reliability Engineer, to support the reliability of flight hardware across the product lifecycle for our human-rated space stations. In this role, you will support machining, additive, and structural sub-assembly work centers, operating at the intersection of design, manufacturing, integration, and testing to ensure that our space systems meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance. This will be a full-time, exempt position at our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Own Build Reliability for fluid system component and sub-assembly build and test work centers, setting expectations for reliability, manufacturability, and build and flight readiness, and ensuring lessons are learned and applied to future programs.
• Enable successful introduction of new products to production, ensuring designs are manufacturable, requirements are valid and verifiable, measurement systems and processes are capable and efficient, and work instructions, equipment, tooling, and personnel are ready to achieve rate reliably.
• Mature manufacturing and verification processes by improving process controls, tooling, measurement methods, data collection, work instructions, and training.
• Collect and analyze build data to identify risk and recurring issues. Lead build quality reviews, generate data-driven recommendations to prevent issues and quality escapes, and effectively implement them in collaboration with partner teams.
• Ensure off-nominal work is performed and documented reliably. Provide leadership and technical direction for high-visibility issues, establishing recovery plans and aligning operations, quality, and engineering on execution. Partner with Mission Assurance to ensure risks are escalated and properly mitigated across Vast.
• Lead containment and root-cause investigation of high-impact issues. Ensure implementation and verification of corrective actions that address root cause and systemic contributors.
• Lead cost-of-quality reduction initiatives that simplify requirements, leverage part and feature criticality to streamline inspection, improve design standards, and strengthen process controls to prevent non-conformances at the source.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent experience
• 2+ years of experience in manufacturing, design, quality, reliability, or related roles (internship experience qualifies)

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience working in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Direct experience working on any of the following products/processes:
• Fluid handling / control systems (tubes, valves, sensors)
• Complex mechanical/structural assemblies
• Precision cleaning and verification
• Welding (in particular orbital tube welding)
• 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

Additional Requirements

• • Ability to travel up to 5%
  • Ability to support mission-critical events outside normal working hours

Pay Range: California 112340 - 195552 USD