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Jobs · Quality Assurance · California

VP of Mission Assurance & Quality (MA&Q)

E-Space · Saratoga, CA · 1 mo ago
On-siteQuality Assurance$190k–$225k/yrFull-time

About the role

E-Space is building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. The VP, Mission Assurance & Quality (MA&Q) holds independent oversight authority to ensure every spacecraft is safe, reliable, and qualified before launch. This role is structurally independent of all other VP organizations; only the CTO can override an MA&Q determination, and that override is documented with the MA&Q position on record. MA&Q does not build hardware, does not own schedule, and does not report to any VP who does.

Mission Assurance

  • Own the FMEA/FMECA from initial build through qualification—zero unmitigated single-point failures is a CDR entry criterion
  • Chair the Failure Review Board (FRB): convene, lead root cause investigation, assess extent of condition, and close with verified corrective action
  • Define mission success criteria and own fault tree analysis

Safety

  • Implement and own the system safety program per MIL-STD-882 or program-equivalent standard
  • Lead hazard analysis (PHA, SHA) and maintain the hazard tracking log through every gate
  • Manage propulsion, battery, high-voltage, and deployment safety; provide range safety interface for launch operations

Quality Assurance

  • Exercise independent inspection authority across all program phases
  • Hold sole NCR disposition authority—Use-As-Is and Repair require MA&Q concurrence regardless of phase
  • Enforce workmanship standards per IPC-A-610 Class 3; conduct process audits and first article inspections
  • Issue Standing Disposition Authorizations (SDAs) for recurring Tier 2/3 NCRs; Tier 1 Critical NCRs trigger CTO notification within 4 hours

Reliability Engineering

  • Own quantitative reliability model per MIL-HDBK-217 or equivalent; track MTBF/MTTR targets against the constellation availability model
  • Lead reliability growth tracking, redundancy analysis, and reliability predictions correlated with test data at QR

Parts Engineering & Radiation

  • Maintain the Preferred Parts List (PPL)—sole authority to add or remove parts; no part may fly without PPL approval
  • Enforce derating compliance at CDR and manage lot acceptance testing
  • Specify the mission radiation environment (TID, SEE, displacement damage) and track radiation margins for all flight parts

Configuration Management

  • Chair the production CCB and administer the ECO/ECN process
  • Maintain as-built configuration records from the MES; execute FCA and PCA before Phase Close Gate
  • Provide as-built conformance report to the CTO

Requirements

  • 15+ years of progressive mission assurance, quality engineering, or reliability engineering on flight programs; at least one spacecraft program carried from system requirements through on-orbit operations
  • Demonstrated record of exercising halt/reject authority or withholding qualification sign-off against schedule and cost pressure—must describe a specific instance
  • Direct accountability for a flight program's FMEA/FMECA from initial build through qualification, including enforcing zero-unmitigated-SPOF at CDR
  • Experience designing, implementing, and running a tiered NCR classification and disposition system at production rate, including Use-As-Is and Repair disposition authority
  • Direct experience chairing or co-chairing a spacecraft Qualification Review and making the independent go/no-go determination
  • Familiarity with PPL management, derating analysis, lot acceptance testing, and radiation qualification requirements (TID, SEE)
  • Demonstrated record of building multi-discipline assurance teams spanning all seven functions
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Systems, Electrical Engineering, or related field—or equivalent verifiable experience

Bonus Points

  • Direct experience with constellation programs and fleet-wide conformance reporting
  • Familiarity with SAP (Special Access Program) assurance requirements
  • Prior experience as CCB chair in a high-rate production environment
  • Familiarity with CMMI or AS9100 quality management systems in a space or defense manufacturing environment
  • Range safety certification or prior direct range safety interface experience

This is a full-time, exempt position based out of the Saratoga office. The target base pay is $190,000–$225,000 annually; total compensation will be determined by relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Occasional extended hours or weekends may be required during critical periods. This role requires access to controlled technical data and is limited to U.S. persons under ITAR/EAR.

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