Vast · 3 weeks ago
Manager, Harness Manufacturing Engineering
Long Beach, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$125K/yr - $170K/yr
5+ years expVast is on a mission to contribute to a future where billions of people thrive in space, and they are building artificial gravity space stations. The Manager of Harness Manufacturing Engineering will lead the avionics harness manufacturing engineering function, collaborate with design teams, and oversee the development and improvement of manufacturing processes to support the creation of human-rated avionics systems.
Defense & Space
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead and manage the avionics harness manufacturing engineering function, providing both technical leadership and people leadership to support the design, build, integration, and test of human-rated avionics systems and wire harnesses
Collaborate closely with design engineering teams to provide early and continuous input on manufacturability, assembly, and testability (DFM/DFA), ensuring designs are optimized for quality, schedule, and scalability
Own the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, tooling, onboard equipment, and build strategies for avionics systems
Establish, maintain, and approve manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, work instructions, and process documentation to ensure consistent, compliant, and repeatable production
Build, mentor, and manage a team of avionics manufacturing engineers, setting clear priorities, providing technical guidance, performance feedback, and supporting career development
Identify, assess, and resolve manufacturing risks and issues through structured root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and cross-functional problem solving
Serve as the manufacturing engineering representative in design reviews, readiness reviews, and production reviews, advocating for manufacturing requirements, constraints, and readiness
Partner with supply chain and suppliers to review and approve supplier manufacturing processes, ensure quality standards are met, and support timely delivery of avionics hardware
Work closely with Quality, Production, Test, and Program teams to define quality controls, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and escalation paths
Provide hands-on technical support as needed during assembly, integration, test, and troubleshooting activities on the production floor
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing principles, waste reduction techniques, and process maturity improvements
Track, communicate, and report manufacturing engineering performance metrics related to quality, schedule, cost, and execution risk
Stay current with industry standards, emerging technologies, and best practices in avionics and aerospace manufacturing, incorporating lessons learned into Vast processes
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with experience in aerospace, avionics, or other highly regulated industries
2+ years of experience leading or mentoring engineers, project teams, or technical functions
Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
Specific certifications, as appropriate
Benefits
100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
Flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff
Paid parental leave
Short and long-term disability insurance
Life insurance
Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
One Medical membership
ClassPass credits
Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
Other discounts and perks
Exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
Lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees
Company
Vast
Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure 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.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Max Haot
Chief Executive Officer
Alex Hudson
Chief Technology Officer
Recent News
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