Quality Control Technician

Job Expired

Alameda, California, United States

Full Time

4 months ago

Job description

The Company

Astra’s mission is to Improve Life on Earth from Space® by creating a healthier and more connected planet. Today, Astra offers one of the lowest cost-per-launch dedicated orbital launch services of any operational launch provider in the world, and one of the industry’s first flight-proven electric propulsion systems for satellites, Astra Spacecraft Engine™. Astra delivered its first commercial launch to low Earth orbit in 2021, making it the fastest company in history to reach this milestone, just five years after it was founded in 2016. Astra (NASDAQ: ASTR) was the first space launch company to be publicly traded on Nasdaq.

The Team

The Machine Shop Team is a highly skilled group of machinists and fabricators that bring our company's designs to life. The team is responsible for taking raw materials to finished form, while observing dimensional requirements and schedule constraints. The goal is always to produce finished parts that are of higher quality, lower cost, and to make them faster than any other shop!

The Opportunity

As the Quality Control Technician, you are our source of truth on matters related to inspection of physical parts. The Machine Shop and Receiving Teams rely on you to employ precision measurement tools and CMMs in order to evaluate dimensional accuracy of machined parts and to document results. Best practices in the application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) are applied in the setup and inspection of parts in a variety of materials and complexities. Results and recommendations are effectively communicated to engineers and machinists in adherence with Astra processes and in the pursuit of continuous product improvement.

This position may include the ownership of tool calibration programs, major contributions to quality assurance initiatives, and involvement in the procurement of inspection equipment. This is a strong individual contributor role that will report directly to the Quality Control Manager.

How You'll Fulfill Your Mission

Inspect in-process, first article, and finished parts being produced by our machine shop team against drawings produced by our engineers. You will employ a large variety of precision measurement instruments including various micrometer, calipers, PI tapes, ultrasonic gauges, gauge pins and blocks, and more. General inspection will be carried out on a surface plate, and you are able to use a variety of tools such as height gauges, angle plates, and indicators for various measuring tasks. You’re able to employ and maintain a variety of metrology machines, including traditional CMMs, Faro arms, optical CMMs or comparators, hardness testers, and profilometers.
Program CMMs using programming software such as MCOSMOS or CALYPSO for hand guided measurements or for automated probing routines.
Devise inspection setups and procedures when necessary. This includes building go/nogo gauges, design of surface plate inspection setups for a variety of complex parts and acquiring and setting up CMM tooling as required for incoming jobs. Certain in-process inspections may require bringing tools to the shop floor.
Identify future equipment needs and assist with specifying requirements and building quotes with vendors.
Expand the capability and influence of the inspection department. This includes building, growing, and executing a shop-wide calibration program to ensure inspection tools and gauges are trustworthy. You will also assist with development of inspection processes, documentation, and procedures for moving parts through the inspection phase quickly and cleanly. You have experience with mature quality systems and can apply those skills as needed.
Communicate and document inspection results in the pursuit of accountability, traceability, and adherence to process. You are a strong written and verbal communicator, with good people skills, and are approachable. You’re able to assist machinists with drawing comprehension or technical questions and can advise engineers on implementation of GD&T when questions arise.
Participate in a team-first shop atmosphere that emphasizes inclusion and opportunity. The skill and experience that you bring from the field of metrology should level-up the whole team. Inspection challenges and drawing interpretations will be treated as a learning opportunity wherever practical.
Improve shop effectiveness by identifying bottlenecks and recurring issues. You understand what continuous improvement looks like, and you leverage your position as Quality Control Technician to support that end.

Qualifications

5+ years’ experience working in the inspection field, spanning at least two prior employers
Experience working for a manufacturer that is ISO9001 certified, or under a comparable quality system
Expert proficiency working with measuring instruments such as calipers, micrometers, hard gauges, surface plate techniques, etc.
Skilled in programming electronic instruments, such as coordinate measurement machines (CMMs) using necessary programming software such as MCOSMOS or CALYPSO
Ability to diagnose tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs, and arrange with service outlets for any work to be done
Experience collaborating with engineering, supervisory, or manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information and recommendations
Demonstrated experience in establishing inspection procedures, forms, sampling plans, and other technical processes
You are skilled with Excel and Word, have basic CAD proficiency, and are very comfortable using computers and information systems
Excellent attention to detail coupled with working in fast-paced, high pressure environments

Desired Multipliers

10+ years of hands-on experience working in a professional shop environment in the areas of quality control, inspection, or similar
Experience working in the quality control lab in a high-mix, fast paced job shop
CAM experience on any platform
Coursework or certifications in QA/QC
Direct experience working as a machinist or fabricator
Trained in an engineering or design discipline
Experience in a QA/QC profession

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base salary range in the San Francisco Bay Area and excludes additional earnings such as bonus and benefits. If your salary requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply.

ITAR Requirements: This position requires compliance with U.S. Government space technology trade restrictions, specifically the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and additional regulations governing satellite, launch vehicle, missile, and other related technologies. All jobs restricted by these regulations will be contingent upon the applicant’s status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency; in addition to any required company background checks and in compliance with applicable U.S. and California laws. Similarly, positions requiring the ability to work on government contracts or a security clearance are also contingent upon the applicants ability to receive the appropriate clearance and be allowed to work on U.S. government contracts.

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Astra, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

San Francisco Applicants: Astra will consider applicants with arrest and conviction records (criminal histories) in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.