Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, Solar Array
About the role
Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.
Vast is looking for an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, Solar Array reporting to the Avionics Manufacturing Manager, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
As an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, Solar Array you will play a unique and crucial role in bringing solar arrays and other avionics hardware from design into full-scale production for our portfolio of space products. Partnering with cross-functional teams of design/test engineers and technicians, you will drive this hardware through assembly and test, ensuring it meets the highest standards of quality and reliability while contributing to the overall success of the business
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with design teams to provide professional feedback on the manufacturability and assembly processes of solar arrays for crewed stations and satellites.
- Support new product introduction by developing the manufacturing processes needed for solar array production and integration.
- Create and maintain detailed manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent, accurate production of solar arrays and other avionics hardware.
- Design and implement tooling to improve production and test processes, aid inspection, and ensure safety.
- Support environmental and deployment testing of solar arrays throughout development, acceptance, and qualification campaigns.
- Identify and resolve manufacturing challenges by conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions (RCCA).
- Drive process and product improvements that meet integration timelines and improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
- Work closely with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of high-quality components, reviewing and approving their manufacturing processes.
- Perform hands-on assembly, integration, and testing, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications and industry standards.
- Participate in design reviews, offering insights that improve the manufacturability and reliability of this hardware.
- Partner with quality assurance teams to establish and maintain rigorous quality control processes for the manufacturing organization.
- Mentor less experienced colleagues on manufacturing best practices, and collaborate across the team on documentation review and product support.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall product quality.
- Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to drive innovation within the company.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 2+ years of experience in solar array manufacturing, including processes such as bonding, composite fabrication, harness manufacturing, and electro-mechanical assembly.
- Experience in tooling and ground support equipment (GSE) design and/or manufacturing.
- Project management experience, with the ability to own deliverables and meet key milestone deadlines.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Strong understanding of adhesive bonding, composite fabrication, harnessing, and tooling manufacturing processes, with hands-on assembly techniques specific to solar arrays.
- Experience with cell-level processes such as IV testing, binning, and coverglass-interconnected-cell (CIC) lay-up and lamination.
- Experience with stringer machine technology for cell alignment, tabbing, and soldering. Hands-on experience operating, programming or maintaining a stringer machine is a strong plus.
- Experience with composite substrate and panel fabrication is a plus.
- Familiarity with the design, routing, and integration of wire harnesses, including strain relief and termination to array’s power bus.
- Experience designing and manufacturing tooling, ground support equipment (GSE), and test equipment to support production and acceptance testing.
- Experience with thermal vacuum, electrical performance, and deployment testing of solar arrays and test coupons.
- Familiarity with acceptance criteria, and rework/repair procedures, for solar cells and completed arrays.
- Experience authoring work instructions for the manufacturing, inspection, and testing of solar arrays and related avionics hardware.
- Experience documenting nonconformances, driving dispositions, and implementing corrective actions.
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., Siemens NX) for reviewing designs and generating manufacturing documentation.
- Familiarity with industry standards relevant to solar arrays and avionics manufacturing, such as IPC/WHMA-A-620 (harnesses), IPC-A-610 (electronic assemblies), and NASA workmanship standards..
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead structured root cause analysis.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
- Hands-on experience testing and troubleshooting solar array systems.
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies.
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, flight-worthy hardware.
- Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) from prototype through production.
- Ability to provide clear, actionable design-for-manufacturing (DFM) feedback to engineering teams.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Familiarity with working in ESD and cleanroom environments ( ISO 7 or ISO 8).
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.
COMPENSATION 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: 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 & 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.
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.