Team Lead, Supplier Quality Engineering

Astranis is on a mission to bridge the digital divide by connecting the four billion people worldwide who currently lack internet access. We're doing this by building the next generation of smaller, more cost-effective spacecraft to bring the world online.

As a team, we've launched two satellites into orbit, signed ten commercial deals worth over $1 billion in revenue, raised over $500 million from top global investors, and recruited a team of over 300 world-class engineers. We all work out of our (legendary) San Francisco office, which was once used to build ships during the World Wars.

Our satellites, which operate from geostationary orbit (GEO), weigh only 400 kg and utilize a proprietary software-defined radio payload. Each satellite can connect over two million people, and we're very excited for the impact we'll soon have in the Philippines, Peru, Mexico, and more!

Backed by substantial funding and a passionate, collaborative team, we offer a rewarding work environment where you'll learn and make a significant impact, no matter where you are in your career.

Apply and join us on our journey towards global connectivity!

Team Lead, Supplier Quality Engineering

As our Lead of Supplier Quality Engineering, you will be tasked with the unique opportunity to create a quality management system for the Astranis supply chain. As Astranis scales up the production of its satellites, we need to build robust business processes, systems, and controls to ensure our hardware meets the highest level of quality and reliability.

This role will be the first dedicated supplier quality person in the company and will work closely with the Head of Production and the Head of Supply Chain to build out a robust supplier quality program in order to create a world-class satellite manufacturing operation. The ideal candidate is committed to the mission, dependable, self-motivated and autonomous, has extensive quality engineering and management experience working on high-reliability products, and has demonstrated the ability to build a quality system from scratch.

Role

• Develop business processes and implement systems for supplier quality functions such as configuration management, change control, nonconformance resolution, first article inspection, root cause analysis, corrective actions, containments, statistical process control, etc.
• Write and maintain quality management aspects of our Supplier Handbook to govern how we design, build, and test supplier hardware.
• Work together with design engineering teams to develop standards for part drawings, including identification of key characteristics, dimensioning and GD&T, and first article inspection plans.
• Develop a process validation framework for qualifying new manufacturing processes at our supply base, and work with our supply base to implement.
• Create metrics and tools to monitor the success of products and processes in production, including product yield and statistical process control (SPC).
• Develop a process for regular build quality reviews to ensure that design intent is achieved and well-communicated.
• Assist the production leadership team by identifying opportunities for risk reduction and removal of complexity in designs and processes to improve manufacturability.
• Be responsible for building out, managing and supporting a team of high-performing Supplier Quality Engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or equivalent technical degree.
• 5+ years in quality engineering or quality management role.
• 2+ years of leadership experience managing a technical team.
• Hands-on experience qualifying and maintaining manufacturing processes for electronics and/or mechanical assemblies.
• Demonstrated application of process validation and control methods such as PFMEA, design of experiments (DOE), and statistical process control (SPC).
• Familiarity with implementing QMS standards such as AS9100 and ISO9001.

Bonus

• Experience implementing Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) with suppliers.
• Strong SQL and Python skills, and demonstrated ability to manage large data sets and create useful tools/dashboards/reports for others.
• Ability to use common CAD, PLM, and ERP systems such as Solidworks, Altium, and Arena.
• Strong statistical analysis skills.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal. Ability to produce executive-level reports and presentations to efficiently convey information about large data sets.

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 our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.