Supplier Quality Engineer - Spacecraft Hardware

Intuitive Machines

5d•$90,000 - $173,000•Remote

About The Position

Lanteris Space Systems/Intuitive Machines is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer accountable for ensuring suppliers can provide the right product at the required quality and schedule, in accordance with contractual requirements. The role oversees supplier performance end to end, from initial qualification through delivery, and owns the complete picture of supplier performance. This is a remote position and requires a home office, reliable transportation, and a minimum of 50% travel outside the United States. The position manages supplier relationships and performance across cost, quality, schedule, delivery, compliance, development, risk, and escalations. It coordinates with Supply Chain, Engineering, and other internal teams to ensure that suppliers meet contractual, engineering, and quality requirements. The role also performs and reviews supplier assessments, audits, manufacturing and quality processes, corrective actions, root-cause investigations, qualification activities, and continuous-improvement efforts. The role requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or technical discipline and at least 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing quality, quality engineering, or supplier quality in aerospace, space, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A master's degree, additional experience, and spacecraft or aerospace hardware expertise are preferred. The position is remote and offers a location-dependent annual base salary range: $90,000–$150,000 in Colorado, New Jersey, and Delaware; $99,000–$165,000 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area; and $104,000–$173,000 in California. Other locations may have different market-driven ranges. Eligible employees receive paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and a 401(k).

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 10 years of progressive experience in Manufacturing Quality, Quality Engineering, or Supplier Quality in aerospace, space, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
Strong working knowledge of AS9100 quality management requirements and aerospace manufacturing standards.
Experience leading root-cause investigations and corrective actions (RCCA/CAPA) using structured methods such as 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, or equivalent.
Extensive experience with nonconformance management, Material Review Board (MRB), and disposition of manufacturing issues.
Experience performing, reviewing, or approving First Article Inspections (FAI) in accordance with AS9102.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, BOMs, manufacturing work instructions, and inspection requirements.
Experience applying PFMEA/FMEA, SPC, control plans, process capability analysis, risk assessment, and inspection planning.
Ability to independently resolve complex manufacturing and quality issues throughout the design, production, integration, and test lifecycle.
Ability to work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Supplier Quality.
Technical leadership skills, including mentoring engineers and influencing quality and manufacturing decisions across programs.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including communicating technical risks, quality issues, and corrective actions to engineering and program leadership.
Must be able to travel outside the United States at least 50% of the time.
Must have a home office available.
Must have reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline.
12 or more years of quality engineering experience, with significant experience supporting spacecraft, satellite, aerospace, or defense hardware.
Experience supporting hardware through prototype, qualification, production, integration, test, and flight delivery.
Working knowledge of NASA, DoD, or other government/customer quality requirements.
Experience with spaceflight hardware workmanship standards, including IPC/J-STD or NASA workmanship requirements.
Experience supporting or leading customer, regulatory, and AS9100 audits.
Experience with supplier quality, source inspection, supplier corrective actions, and supplier development.
Demonstrated experience driving measurable improvements in first-pass yield, defect reduction, scrap/rework, escapes, and manufacturing process capability.
Experience implementing quality requirements for new product introduction (NPI) and transitioning designs into production.
ASQ certification such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or equivalent.
Experience serving as the technical quality authority for complex aerospace hardware or spacecraft programs.

Responsibilities

Own the overall relationship with assigned suppliers.
Establish and track supplier schedule, quality, and delivery performance.
Monitor supplier commitments and production readiness.
Work with suppliers to identify and manage supplier risks.
Lead supplier performance reviews and executive escalations.
Coordinate activities with Supply Chain and Engineering.
Ensure suppliers meet contractual, engineering, and quality requirements.
Perform supplier assessments and audits of manufacturing and quality processes.
Lead supplier corrective actions and root-cause investigations, and drive recovery plans when suppliers fall behind.
Address nonconformances, escapes, and recurring quality issues.
Review first-article and qualification activities and inspection requirements.
Monitor quality metrics and drive continuous improvement.
Manage supplier performance across cost, quality, schedule, and delivery.
Manage supplier quality through compliance, audits, nonconformance reports, and corrective actions.
Drive supplier development through process improvement and capability building.
Assess supplier capacity, technical, manufacturing, and schedule risks.
Manage supplier relationships and escalations, including supplier leadership and internal executive communication.