Supervisor of Avionics Manufacturing, Development & Battery
$90k - $130k USD
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.
Vast is looking for a Supervisor of Avionics Manufacturing, Development & Battery, reporting to Manager of Avionics and Testing, 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.
Responsibilities:
- Organize, coordinate, prioritize, and communicate day-to-day development builds and battery manufacturing work assignments for a technician team.
- Take ownership of all development builds, ensuring rapid execution, proper tooling, and adherence to IPC and internal manufacturing standards.
- Lead development efforts including electro-mechanical assembly, soldering, harnessing, and quick-turn prototype builds, ensuring builds are completed efficiently and with high quality.
- Identify and implement required tooling, fixtures, and build processes necessary to support development and production readiness.
- Own the battery manufacturing process from start to finish, including cell screening, cell populating, wire bonding, battery pack assembly, and final integration.
- Ensure battery builds meet quality, safety, and traceability requirements, maintaining strict process control throughout manufacturing.
Drive non-conformance review meetings, working cross-functionally with engineering, quality, and operations teams to resolve issues and implement corrective actions. - Lead and demonstrate strong workmanship, accountability, and safety culture within the team.
Train, mentor, and onboard new technicians while supporting the professional development of existing team members. - Support team members in daily technical tasks, troubleshooting manufacturing challenges, and removing production blockers.
Collaborate closely with engineering teams during development phases, providing feedback on manufacturability, tooling requirements, and process improvements. - Assist with optimizing development and manufacturing processes for electronics and battery systems, focusing on efficiency, reliability, and repeatability.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing throughput, reduce defects, and enhance product quality.
- Maintain laboratory and workshop areas, including cleanliness, consumables management, tool control, and maintaining build infrastructure.
Read and interpret technical drawings, work instructions, and engineering documentation to support build activities.
Operate in a fast-paced development environment, balancing quick-turn builds with structured manufacturing processes.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in electronics manufacturing, electro-mechanical assembly, or battery manufacturing environments.
- At least 3 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role, managing technicians or production teams.
- High School Diploma or equivalency certificate.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Hands-on experience with development builds, prototyping, and rapid iteration environments.
- Experience working in a quality-controlled manufacturing environment such as AS9100, ISO9001, or similar systems.
- Strong understanding of IPC standards, soldering techniques, and electronics assembly processes.
- Hands-on experience with battery manufacturing processes, including cell screening, cell populating, wire bonding, and battery pack assembly.
- Strong understanding of electro-mechanical assembly, harnessing, and electronics integration.
- Experience working with engineering teams during product development cycles.
- Ability to identify tooling needs and develop efficient manufacturing workflows for new builds.
- Experience developing manufacturing documentation such as work instructions, build procedures, and standard operating procedures.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to lead root cause and corrective action investigations.
- Experience driving non-conformance resolution and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional teams including engineering, quality, and production.
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality, reliable hardware.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical development and production milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
Pay Range: California
$90,000—$130,000 USD
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: 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 & 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.