Subcontracts Specialist, Indirect

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Subcontracts Specialist, Indirect, reporting to the Director of Indirect Supply Chain, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

• Develop category specific strategies for Indirect (Facilities, Capital Equipment and Services) to deliver high quality and low cost solutions for Vast Operations and Manufacturing Customers
• Interface with key Vast Customers including Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering and and senior leadership to understand the strategic direction, capital requirements and business priorities
• Manage the procurement process – RFI/RFQ/RFPs, negotiations, etc. – for Indirect projects.  Scope includes managing supplier planning and execution, coordination, contract preparation, negotiation and execution.
• Directly manage suppliers for Indirect spend (including equipment, engineering & design, and construction), category through supplier scorecards, quarterly business reviews; measuring contract compliance and other key metrics to ensure targets/ schedules are being met and value is being delivered to the business
• Ensure all sourcing activities are conducted in accordance with proper procedures and protocols. Track execution to sourcing and procuring plans for all projects per cost and timeline
• Seek alternate and innovative ideas to provide business solutions, challenge requirements and specifications to create competitive advantage

Minimum Qualifications:

• Familiarity and experience in negotiating contracts and terms and conditions, specifically AIA Agreements
• Experience in all aspects of the Indirect Procurement process, from demand identification through fulfillment
• Bachelor of Science degree in Business or Engineering discipline 

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with subcontracts, purchasing or contracts within an aerospace environment
• Negotiation skills with contracts exceeding $1 million with tight deadline requirements 
• Experience in conducting presentations to senior leadership

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Pay Range: 

• Subcontracts Specialist, Indirect: $79,000 - $108,000
• Senior Subcontracts Specialist, Indirect: $109,000 - $145,000

Salary Range: California$79,000—$145,000 USDCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS   Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and