Quality Engineer

Space Kinetic • El Segundo, CA

11d • $120,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.
This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field along with 3 –7 years of experience in aerospace, defense, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of AS9100D and AS9102.
• Experience with inspection methods, GD&T, and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience with CAPA and root cause analysis.

Nice To Haves

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or similar certification.
• Experience supporting precision machining or aerospace hardware.
• Knowledge of NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, ITAR, and export-controlled environments.
• Experience with ERP, QMS, and electronic document control systems.

Responsibilities

• Own quality for a major spacecraft program from development through production.
• Build, implement, and scale Space Kinetic’s Quality Management System (QMS).
• Support AS9100 implementation and certification for our first manufacturing process.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations to design quality into products and processes.
• Develop quality standards, processes, and controls for spacecraft and flight hardware.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Establish repeatable processes that enable consistent, high-quality production at scale.
• Ensure flight hardware meets quality, reliability, and mission-readiness requirements.

Benefits

• The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level