Manager, Avionics Manufacturing Engineering at Vast

<div class="content-intro"><p>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.</p></div><p>Vast is looking for a&nbsp;<strong>Manager, Avionics Manufacturing Engineering</strong>, reporting to the<strong>&nbsp;Senior Manager, Avionics Manufacturing, </strong>to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.</p> <p>This will be a <strong>full-time</strong>, <strong>exempt</strong> position located in our&nbsp;<strong>Long Beach</strong>&nbsp;location.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities:&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead and manage the avionics electro-mechanical and PCBA manufacturing engineering function, providing both technical and people leadership to support the design, build, integration, and test of human-rated avionics systems and hardware.</li> <li>Collaborate closely with design engineering teams to provide early and continuous input on manufacturability, assembly, and testability (DFM/DFA/DFT), ensuring PCBAs and electro-mechanical designs are optimized for quality, reliability, schedule, and scalability.</li> <li>Own the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, tooling, factory equipment, and build strategies for avionics electronics and electro-mechanical assemblies.</li> <li>Establish, maintain, and approve manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, work instructions, and process documentation to ensure consistent, compliant, and repeatable production of PCBAs and integrated avionics hardware.</li> <li>Build, mentor, and manage a team of avionics manufacturing engineers, setting clear priorities, providing technical guidance, performance feedback, and supporting career development.</li> <li>Drive robust electronics manufacturing practices including:</li> <li>Identify, assess, and resolve manufacturing risks and issues through structured root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and cross-functional problem solving.</li> <li>Serve as the manufacturing engineering representative in design reviews, production readiness reviews, and test readiness reviews, advocating for manufacturing requirements, constraints, and readiness.</li> <li>Partner with supply chain and suppliers to review and approve supplier manufacturing processes for PCB fabrication, PCBA assembly, and electro-mechanical hardware, ensuring quality standards are met and delivery schedules are achieved.</li> <li>Work closely with Quality, Production, Test, and Program teams to define quality controls, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and escalation paths for electronics and electro-mechanical builds.</li> <li>Provide hands-on technical support as needed during assembly, integration, test, and troubleshooting activities on the production floor and in test labs.</li> <li>Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing principles, waste reduction techniques, and process maturity improvements across electronics and electro-mechanical production.</li> <li>Track, communicate, and report manufacturing engineering performance metrics related to quality, schedule, cost, and execution risk.</li> <li>Stay current with industry standards, emerging technologies, and best practices in aerospace electronics manufacturing, incorporating lessons learned into company processes.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Qualifications:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.</li> <li>5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with experience in aerospace, avionics, or other highly regulated industries.</li> <li>2+ years of experience leading or mentoring engineers, project teams, or technical functions.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Additional Requirements:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.</li> <li>Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted.</li> <li>Specific certifications, as appropriate.</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$150,000</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$210,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><div style="line-height: 1;"><strong>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS</strong></div> <div style="line-height: 1;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <div> <div data-qa="message_pane"> <div> <div id="message-list"> <div id="message-list"> <div data-qa="slack_kit_scrollbar"> <div> <div data-qa="slack_kit_list"> <div id="message-list_1770163429.476589" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1770163429.476589"> <div data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false" data-msg-ts="1770163429.476589" data-msg-channel-id="D1T52LDR4"> <div data-qa-hover="true"> <div> <div> <div> <div data-qa="message_content"> <div> <div data-qa="message-text"> <div data-qa="block-kit-renderer"> <div> <div> <div>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 &amp; 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.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="message-list_bottomSpacer" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="bottomSpacer"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <p><strong>U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS</strong></p> 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 <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/section-120.62">22 C.F.R. § 120.62</a> 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.</div> <div style="line-height: 1;">&nbsp;</div> <p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY</strong></p> <div style="line-height: 1;">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.</div></div>