Supervisor of Environmental Testing

As a Supervisor of Environmental Testing at Vast, you will lead a technician team, organizing daily tasks and ensuring a strong work and safety culture. Your responsibilities will include optimizing manufacturing processes, participating in design reviews to enhance avionics components, and maintaining rigorous quality control. You'll also train new team members and support your team in meeting tight production schedules while upholding quality standards.

To qualify for the Supervisor of Environmental Testing position at Vast, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a technical field, with a strong preference for aerospace experience. Additionally, at least 3 years in a leadership role is required, along with experience in vibration and shock testing and knowledge of quality systems like AS9100 and ISO9001.

Success as a Supervisor of Environmental Testing at Vast requires a robust understanding of vibration testing equipment, experience with CAD software like Siemens NX, and proficiency in creating manufacturing documentation. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams will also be critical to excel in this role.

The work environment for the Supervisor of Environmental Testing at Vast is dynamic and fast-paced, reflecting our commitment to innovation in the aerospace industry. You'll be part of a collaborative team dedicated to meeting critical milestones and achieving high production rates. Working in Long Beach, you'll enjoy a supportive culture that values safety and quality in avionics manufacturing.

As the Supervisor of Environmental Testing at Vast, you'll lead a dedicated team of technicians who are passionate about space exploration. Your role will involve mentoring and training new members while ensuring they have the support needed to excel in daily tasks. You'll foster a collaborative environment focused on achieving high-quality standards and continuous improvement in avionics manufacturing.

In preparing for this question, focus on specific projects where you have led vibration and shock testing processes. Discuss the equipment used, your role in the testing, and how you ensured quality standards were met. Highlight any improvements in efficiency or effectiveness that resulted from your protocols or techniques.

Demonstrate your organizational skills by discussing how you assess task urgency and importance. You could mention the use of project management tools or techniques like priority matrices. Share examples where your prioritization led to meeting or exceeding production deadlines without compromising quality.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe an instance where you identified a bottleneck or inefficiency. Explain the steps you took to analyze the issue, enhance workflows, and the positive results that followed, such as improved production rates or reduced waste.

Safety is paramount in technical testing roles. Discuss specific protocols you’ve implemented or reinforced in previous positions, such as safety training programs or daily safety briefings. Provide examples of how these practices safeguarded your team and the overall testing environment.

Share your method for training new employees, emphasizing structured onboarding processes you’ve developed or utilized. Discuss how you assess training effectiveness and provide ongoing support to ensure new team members feel confident and integrated into the team.

Refer to a specific project where you identified quality issues and implemented corrective measures. Discuss your approach to analyzing the root causes, making adjustments, and tracking improvements through metrics or feedback, showcasing a commitment to quality manufacturing standards.

Discuss your experience in working with diverse teams, emphasizing your communication skills and ability to adapt your style to various audiences. Provide an example of a challenging project where cross-functional collaboration led to a successful outcome, accentuating your role in facilitating teamwork.

Familiarize yourself with the technical drawings and documentation relevant to your field, such as CAD schematics and Standard Operating Procedures. Discuss specific types you've used and how effective interpretation of these documents contributed to successful testing and manufacturing outcomes.

Demonstrate your knowledge of industry standards by explaining what AS9100 entails and its significance in avionics manufacturing. Discuss how adherence to these standards shaped your approach to quality control, continuous improvement initiatives, and overall project delivery.

Showcase your flexibility and organizational skills. Explain your approach to assessing priorities in response to shifting project demands, such as reassigning tasks or seeking additional resources when necessary, to ensure that deadlines are consistently met.