Avionics Manufacturing Operations Engineer

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. 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 an Avionics Manufacturing Operations Engineer, reporting to the Manager of Avionics Manufacturing, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. 

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

As an Avionics Manufacturing Operations Engineer, you will be the owner of the manufacturing schedule, responsible for clear-to-build status, on-time delivery to test teams, integration and other customers and overall production readiness. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams of design/test engineers and technicians to ensure the successful manufacturing, assembly, and integration of avionics components and wire harnesses, contributing to the overall success of the business.

Responsibilities:

• Own and manage the manufacturing schedule, from material availability through delivery to environmental test or internal customers
• Drive clear-to-build status, coordinating closely with supply chain, planning, engineering, and quality teams
• Track and analyze KPIs related to production throughput, quality, cycle time, and on-time delivery
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to provide visibility into manufacturing performance
• Collaborate with supply chain and demand planning to ensure parts availability and production alignment with forecasts
• Coordinate with test and integration teams to ensure seamless hardware handoff
• Lead or support process improvements to drive throughput, reduce waste, and increase first-pass yield

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or production planning (preferably in aerospace or electronics)
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems, manufacturing dashboards, and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, Power BI)

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Strong project management and cross-functional communication skills
• Knowledge of supply chain and demand planning processes
• Familiarity with avionics or electronic hardware
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Pay Range:

• Avionics Manufacturing Operations Engineer II: $100,000 - $130.000
• Senior Avionics Manufacturing Operations Engineer: $120,000 - $160,000

Salary Range: California$100,000—$160,000 USDCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS   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, 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, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, 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 Status

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 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 Opportunity

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.