Buyer II

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 Demo’s 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 world’s 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 II, 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 placementConduct ongoing market research to identify potential suppliers/subcontractors, assess capabilities, and support RFQ/RFP executionAssist with source selection, negotiations, and contracting strategies aligned to program, customer, product, and in-service needsOwn/maintain sourcing documentation, including RFQs/RFPs, bid analyses, supplier records, and purchase orders in ERP systemsTrack supply and demand signals and coordinate with planning/program teams to support schedule alignment and on-time deliveryPartner 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 neededIdentify cost and lead time opportunities through basic cost analysis, pricing reviews, and value-focused sourcing recommendationsMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience)2–4+ years of experience in sourcing/procurement, supply chain, or manufacturing operationsExperience supporting supplier selection and RFQ/RFP cycles, negotiations, and PO placementPreferred 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 plusComfortable managing multiple priorities with ambiguous inputs and shifting timelinesStrong organizational skills and ability to make sound decisions with limited informationTeam-oriented and able to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, quality, ops, planning, contracts/legal, and financeComfortable working in a high-intensity environment supporting critical mission milestonesAdditional Requirements:Ability to travel up to 20% of the timeWillingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestonesPay Range: Buyer II: $ 84,000 - $118,000Pay Range: California$84,000—$118,000 USDCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITSBase 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: 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 Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUSThe 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 OPPORTUNITYVast 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.