At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demos 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the worlds first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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 Buyer I, reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, to support the development of the systems required to design and build artificial-gravity, human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Support end-to-end sourcing activities for assigned commodities/categories, from demand identification through supplier selection and purchase order placement
- Conduct ongoing market research to identify potential suppliers/subcontractors, assess capabilities, and support RFQ/RFP execution
- Assist with source selection, negotiations, and contracting strategies aligned to program, customer, product, and in-service needs
- Own/maintain sourcing documentation, including RFQs/RFPs, bid analyses, supplier records, and purchase orders in ERP systems
- Track supply and demand signals and coordinate with planning/program teams to support schedule alignment and on-time delivery
- Partner with quality, engineering, manufacturing, finance, legal/contracts, and program management to support supplier performance (quality, delivery, cost)
- Support supplier performance management and continuous improvement efforts (QCD), including corrective actions and recovery plans as needed
- Identify cost and lead time opportunities through basic cost analysis, pricing reviews, and value-focused sourcing recommendations
Minimum Qualifications:
- 02 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or a related role (internships/co-ops acceptable)
- Basic understanding of procurement processes (RFQ, PO lifecycle, supplier communication, lead times, Incoterms a plus)
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal) and attention to detail
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience creating/updating RFPs/RFQs, purchase orders (POs), and work orders within an ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.)
- Ability to analyze quotes and build basic cost/price comparisons; familiarity with BOMs is a plus
- Comfortable managing multiple priorities with ambiguous inputs and shifting timelines
- Strong organizational skills and ability to make sound decisions with limited information
- Team-oriented and able to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, quality, ops, planning, contracts/legal, and finance
- Comfortable working in a high-intensity environment supporting critical mission milestones
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:
- Buyer I: $ 65,000 - $90,000
Pay Range: California
$65,000—$90,000 USD
COMPENSATION 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, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, 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 & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vasts 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 asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
