Quality Specialist (West Coast Launch & Recovery) - 1st Shift

SpaceX • Long Beach, CA

4d • $33 - $50

About The Position

The Launch & Recovery Quality Specialist contributes to a team of quality inspectors and engineers supporting mission assurance at the launch recovery site. The role promotes efficient and reliable operational processes and partners with individual contributors and leaders across Launch Reliability, Quality Assurance, and Launch Operations to support mission success as flight rates increase. The specialist may also work with companywide leaders on improvement projects involving Falcon 9, Dragon, and Starship.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a technical discipline, or at least 4 years of experience in an engineering, quality, inspection, or aerospace manufacturing role in lieu of a degree.
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base.
• Ability to work first shift, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC).
• Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and offsite as required.
• Must meet U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

• 6 or more years of experience in an engineering, quality, inspection, or aerospace manufacturing role.
• Previous experience in a leadership role.
• Strong collaborative skills.
• Experience supporting production of complex parts and assemblies.
• Quick thinking and problem-solving experience.
• Knowledge of quality tools and methods including Lean principles, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), metrology, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Control Plans, and other problem-solving approaches.
• Dedication to adopting a Lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to a team of quality inspectors and engineers improving the quality and efficiency of vehicle maintenance and launch and recovery operations.
• Develop, prioritize, and manage quality improvement projects to maximize company impact.
• Mentor and develop members of a multidisciplinary team.
• Use continuous improvement to upgrade production controls and reduce the probability of errors.
• Use quantitative tools to verify the effectiveness of process changes and scale successful solutions across the company.
• Identify concerns and improve inspection techniques; develop and standardize inspection guidelines and criteria.
• Work with technicians, inspectors, build reliability, manufacturing engineers, and production management to identify and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work with engineering teams to expand acceptance criteria and create contingent rework operations; review specifications and build documentation for completeness, accuracy, regulatory compliance, and quality objectives.
• Participate in, evaluate, and assess the Authorized Overseer program, Recovery Lift Owners, and other high-risk qualification programs.
• Support the Material Review Board process by managing non-conformances, evaluating root causes, and implementing corrective and preventive actions using methods such as 5 Whys and fishbone analysis.
• Support Quality Management System policies and procedure documentation, and initiate and lead continual improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Support the build reliability team in containment efforts for suspect product.
• Develop and modify dashboards to monitor and measure team performance.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
• Potential discretionary bonuses.
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Various other discounts and perks.
• May accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation.
• Eligibility for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
• Paid sick leave pursuant to company policy.

What This Job Offers

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