Senior Materials Technician

About Portal Portal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space. We’re building the spacecraft that makes that mission possible. From our Bothell, WA headquarters, we design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system we build is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in-space mobility, join us. Position Summary The Senior Materials Technician owns the daily movement, storage, and accountability of Portal’s flight hardware, raw materials, tools, equipment, and consumables. This hands-on role leads receiving, inventory control, kitting, and shipping while establishing practical processes that support a growing spacecraft manufacturer. Working with Supply Chain, Engineering, Build, Integration, and Test, this individual keeps materials available, traceable, and organized to enable the more efficient building of spacecraft. Success means accurate records, dependable material flow, and clean, organized work areas where every item has a designated home. Core Responsibilities Receiving and Material Accountability • Receive deliveries and verify purchase order, part number, revision, quantity, condition, and required documentation; record receipts promptly in Portal’s inventory system. • Capture serial numbers, lot numbers, and Certificates of Conformance as required. Label and route material to designated storage or Quality inspection, maintaining clear acceptance and hold status. • Identify shortages, damage, incorrect parts, and missing documentation; coordinate resolution with Procurement and Quality and segregate suspect material pending authorized disposition. Inventory Control and Traceability • Maintain labeled storage locations and accurate records of receipts, issues, transfers, returns, and material status; preserve traceability as hardware moves between sites and work areas. • Lead baseline inventories, physical inventories, and cycle counts covering production material, tools, and assets. Investigate discrepancies and implement corrective actions; obtain approval for inventory adjustments. • Manage shelf-life controls, stock rotation, and specified storage conditions. Monitor consumable levels and notify Procurement before shortages affect work. • Protect hardware through appropriate packaging, electrostatic discharge controls, cleanliness practices, and foreign object debris prevention. Kitting and Production Support • Prepare and verify kits against approved bills of materials, work orders, or material requests, including required quantities, revisions, and traceability. • Coordinate kit readiness and shortage priorities with Build and Supply Chain; stage and deliver material to support integration and test schedules. • Record material consumption and unused returns promptly, maintaining separation between flight, development, and nonconforming hardware.   Shipping and Logistics • Prepare protective packaging, labels, packing lists, and shipment records for supplier returns, outside processing, intersite transfers, and customer or test-site deliveries. • Coordinate carrier pickups, deliveries, tracking, and proof of receipt with Supply Chain; maintain an orderly shipping and receiving area. • Support shipment documentation and approved handling instructions. Coordinate export-controlled or hazardous shipments with authorized personnel and perform regulated shipping tasks only when trained and authorized. Tools Assets and Workplace Organization • Maintain tool and asset identification, assigned locations, checkout records, and return accountability. Coordinate calibration due dates with equipment owners and Quality and flag unavailable or overdue tools. • Own 6S practices in materials areas: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, and Safety. Establish labeled racks, bins, staging zones, and visual controls; maintain clear aisles and orderly storage. • Help plan storage layouts and site consolidation, preserving identification and accountability during moves. Identify reusable stock and redundant supplies before new purchases are requested. • Write practical work instructions, train teammates, and improve material flow. Track inventory accuracy, receiving backlog, kit readiness, and recurring discrepancies to guide improvements. What You Bring To Portal • A hands-on ownership mindset: independently organize work, resolve routine issues, and escalate risks before they interrupt a build. • Strong attention to detail and disciplined recordkeeping, with the judgment to protect high-value and flight-critical hardware. • Clear communication, dependable follow-through, and a willingness to maintain order while priorities change in a startup environment. Basic Qualifications • High school diploma or equivalent • 5+ years of relevant experience in materials operations, inventory control, shipping and receiving, or manufacturing logistics • Experience with receiving, kitting, physical inventories, and discrepancy resolution in a manufacturing or technical environment • Experience using ERP, MRP, or inventory systems and spreadsheets to maintain accurate material transactions and records • Ability to interpret part identifiers, bills of materials, purchase orders, and work instructions; experience handling serialized or lot-controlled items Physical / Essential Job Functions (reasonable accommodation available upon request) • Ability to safely operate material-handling equipment (e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks, hoists) following required training and authorization • Ability to perform onsite physical duties associated with the role — including standing, lifting, and moving materials — with or without reasonable accommodation Preferred Qualifications • Current or prior forklift operator training and demonstrated hands-on experience safely operating forklifts are strongly preferred. • Experience supporting spacecraft, aerospace, defense, electronics, or other high-reliability manufacturing; familiarity with Quality hold controls and audit documentation. • Experience establishing a stockroom, barcode or QR tracking, managing tool accountability, or improving processes using 5S or 6S. • Familiarity with ESD-sensitive hardware, cleanroom material handling, shelf-life-controlled materials, and sensitive equipment packaging. • Experience training others and coordinating freight; relevant dangerous-goods shipping training is a plus. Pay Range: $28-$40/hr Compensation and Benefits: Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. At Portal, your base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company equity at an exciting time of company growth as well as potential bonuses. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k)-retirement plan, paid parental leave, you may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 12 or more paid holidays per year as well as sick time. ITAR Statement This position may involve access to technical data and defense-related materials controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility to access ITAR-controlled items requires that candidates be U.S. persons, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law. Employment is contingent upon verification of ITAR eligibility and, where applicable, obtaining any required export authorization or license. Equal Opportunity Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.