Sr Engineering Program Specialist at Astra

Sunnyvale, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Aerospace, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

5+ years of experience in program management, project management, or a similar role, with a strong focus on hardware development or consumer electronics
Proven ability to manage a product's lifecycle from early development through to manufacturing and delivery
Hands-on experience with Bills of Materials (BOMs), change management processes (ECOs), and vendor management
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively lead cross-functional meetings and communicate project status, risks, and plans to diverse stakeholders, including engineering, procurement, and management teams
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to identify and address project issues proactively
Preferred Qualifications
Prior experience in the machine learning (ML) or data collection space, particularly with projects involving large-scale data sets
Familiarity with project management software

Responsibilities

Acquire and track materials required for product development
Support prototype and reference hardware development builds by coordinating with internal and external teams
Lead weekly build readiness meetings with Contract Manufacturing, Engineering, and Materials Procurement teams to ensure alignment and address potential roadblocks
Track prototype and reference board allocation and manage all board tracking activities
Support build matrices and configurations and ensure accuracy and consistency
Create and structure Bills of Materials (BOMs) and communicate new part numbers to internal teams and our Contract Manufacturer
Write Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and manage all BOM changes communicated to the Contract Manufacturer
Support board shipment arrangements across different geographical locations (geos)
Create detailed project plans for Edge ML data collections, including scheduling, resourcing, budget, and logistics
Work with cross-functional teams to plan, coordinate, and execute data collections
Work with key stakeholders to understand data collection requirements and set up a delivery plan considering resources and timelines
Lead various data collections with different technologies, from the design phase through to delivery
Collaborate with data collection specialists, PMs, and engineers to ensure the delivery of high-quality data
Communicate regularly with management on project status, risks, and change control
Track and drive goal achievement and issue resolution for all assigned projects
Generate various reports to measure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and share them with the team and stakeholders
Assist with vendor relationship management, including processing purchase orders and reconciling invoices
Build a thorough understanding of data labeling conventions and develop clear documentation for partners
Collate data for metrics dashboards and other business reports

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

BOM ManagementEngineering Change OrdersHardware BuildsPrototype DevelopmentContract ManufacturingCross-Functional CoordinationBuild Readiness MeetingsBoard TrackingProject PlanningData CollectionEdge MLSupply ChainLogistics

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience is required for this Senior Engineering Program Specialist role?

Candidates need 5+ years of experience in program management, project management, or a similar role, with a strong focus on hardware development or consumer electronics.

Is travel required for this position?

A maximum of two trips to Asia may be required over a one-year period.

What are the key responsibilities involving hardware builds?

Responsibilities include acquiring and tracking materials, supporting prototype and reference hardware development builds, leading weekly build readiness meetings, tracking board allocation, and managing BOMs and ECOs.

What qualities make an ideal candidate for this role?

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and a strong communicator who can keep multiple complex projects on track.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Astra

Provides launch services for small satellites

About Astra

Astra provides launch services specifically for small satellites, catering to commercial businesses, government agencies, and research institutions that need reliable access to space. The company operates small, agile rockets designed to transport these satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). Astra's approach focuses on making space more accessible by reducing the costs and complexities associated with satellite launches, which allows a wider range of customers to utilize their services. Unlike many competitors, Astra emphasizes efficiency and cost-effectiveness in its operations, aiming to meet the growing demand for satellite-based services such as Earth observation and telecommunications. The company's goal is to facilitate more frequent and affordable satellite launches, thereby expanding opportunities for various applications in the space industry.

Alameda, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2016Year Founded

$291.8MTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

AerospaceIndustries

201-500Employees

Benefits

Competitive Medical (HMO & PPO)/Dental/Vision plans

Company paid Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability plans

401K with company match

Flexible Spending Account

Commuter benefits

Caregiving support benefits

Company perks, like PetPlan, curated gym/travel/products discounts

Free lunch

Company events

Risks

Going private may limit Astra's access to public capital markets.

Astra faces financial instability due to liquidity crunch and high cost of capital.

Intensifying competition in the small satellite launch market could impact Astra's market share.

Differentiation

Astra offers cost-effective launch services for small satellite payloads.

The company focuses on agile rockets for frequent access to space.

Astra provides online reservations for payload deliveries to various orbits.

Upsides

Growing demand for small satellite constellations aligns with Astra's business model.

U.S. government investment in space technology presents contract opportunities for Astra.

Astra's reusable rocket technology could lead to significant cost reductions.

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