Manufacturing Engineer, Soft-Goods

As a Manufacturing Engineer, Soft-Goods at Vast, your main responsibilities include the development and implementation of manufacturing processes for various soft-goods products, ensuring high quality in collaboration with Product Design and Supply Chain teams. Additionally, you will be responsible for meeting production targets, leading reviews with stakeholders, coordinating root cause analyses for quality issues, and creating operating procedures for manufacturing processes.

To qualify for the Manufacturing Engineer, Soft-Goods position at Vast, you should have a Bachelor’s degree in industrial or mechanical engineering or a related discipline, along with at least two years of experience in a soft-goods manufacturing environment, preferably for space applications. Strong communication skills, project management abilities, and knowledge of manufacturing techniques such as lean and Six Sigma are highly beneficial.

The role of Manufacturing Engineer, Soft-Goods at Vast is critical for ensuring that all soft-goods products are safe, reliable, and effective for crewed space missions. Your work in developing and optimizing manufacturing processes supports the creation of essential items necessary for human habitation in space, directly impacting the success of our ambitious space projects like Haven-1.

At Vast, you will find a dynamic and collaborative work environment where innovation thrives. As a Manufacturing Engineer, Soft-Goods, you will engage with passionate colleagues across various disciplines, from design to supply chain, fostering a culture of teamwork and excellence. The work environment encourages continuous improvement and supports your professional development, making it an exciting place to grow your career.

Yes! At Vast, we highly value the growth of our employees. As a Manufacturing Engineer, Soft-Goods, you will have access to various professional development opportunities, including training programs, workshops, and exposure to cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. We encourage you to continuously excel in your role and contribute to our mission in space exploration.

When answering this question, share specific examples from your background that highlight your expertise in soft-goods manufacturing. Discuss particular projects you've handled, challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved, emphasizing any relevant processes or technical skills you utilized.

Effective time management and prioritization are crucial in this role. Explain your approach to project management, including tools and methodologies you use. Provide examples of how you've successfully balanced demanding timelines while maintaining quality.

Discuss the quality assurance techniques you advocate for, such as root cause analysis, regular reviews, or collaboration with teams. Highlight how past experiences contributed to maintaining high-quality standards and share any tools or metrics you utilize.

Communication is key in resolving conflicts. Explain the steps you take to ensure all voices are heard. Share an example where you successfully navigated a disagreement, focusing on collaboration and finding common ground.

Detail your familiarity with project management software such as Teamcenter or similar platforms. Discuss how you've used these tools to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and track progress, including specific examples from previous projects.

Outline your approach to assessing design manufacturability early in the process. Discuss the importance of communication between design and engineering teams and provide examples of how you've accomplished this effectively.

Share a specific improvement initiative you've led or participated in, highlighting the results achieved. Detail the steps taken to implement the change and the impact it had on efficiency, quality, or cost.

Discuss your understanding of lean principles and how you've applied them in previous roles. Provide an example where you've utilized lean techniques to reduce waste or enhance overall manufacturing efficiency.

Highlight your ability to thrive in high-pressure environments. Discuss strategies you use to stay focused and organized while managing stress, and provide examples where you successfully met tight deadlines.

Express your passion for the space industry and how your skills align with Vast's mission. Discuss why you find the prospect of working on innovative projects exciting and how you envision contributing to their goals.