{"id":2620864,"url":"https://alion.io/job/vastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array","title":"Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, Solar Array","company":{"id":185145,"name":"Vast Space","domain":"vastspace.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/vastspace","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":76,"open_postings":61,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.967,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":32,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Long Beach, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":120000,"max":245000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":245000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Siemens NX","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-02T01:55:10Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T15:16:20Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":50,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":50},"description":"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.\nHeadquartered inLong 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.\nVast is looking for an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, Solar Array reporting to theAvionics 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 ourLong Beach location. \nAs anAvionics 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 \nResponsibilities: \nCollaborate with design teams to provide professional feedback on the manufacturability and assembly processes of solar arrays for crewed stations and satellites.\nSupport new product introduction by developing the manufacturing processes needed for solar array production and integration.\nCreate and maintain detailed manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent, accurate production of solar arrays and other avionics hardware.\nDesign and implement tooling to improve production and test processes, aid inspection, and ensure safety.\nSupport environmental and deployment testing of solar arrays throughout development, acceptance, and qualification campaigns.\nIdentify and resolve manufacturing challenges by conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions (RCCA).\nDrive process and product improvements that meet integration timelines and improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.\nWork closely with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of high-quality components, reviewing and approving their manufacturing processes.\nPerform hands-on assembly, integration, and testing, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications and industry standards.\nParticipate in design reviews, offering insights that improve the manufacturability and reliability of this hardware.\nPartner with quality assurance teams to establish and maintain rigorous quality control processes for the manufacturing organization.\nMentor less experienced colleagues on manufacturing best practices, and collaborate across the team on documentation review and product support.\nContribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall product quality.\nStay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to drive innovation within the company.\nMinimum Qualifications:\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.\n2+ years of experience in solar array manufacturing, including processes such as bonding, composite fabrication, harness manufacturing, and electro-mechanical assembly.\nExperience in tooling and ground support equipment (GSE) design and/or manufacturing.\nProject management experience, with the ability to own deliverables and meet key milestone deadlines.\nPreferred Skills & Experience:\nStrong understanding of adhesive bonding, composite fabrication, harnessing, and tooling manufacturing processes, with hands-on assembly techniques specific to solar arrays.\nExperience with cell-level processes such as IV testing, binning, and coverglass-interconnected-cell (CIC) lay-up and lamination.\nExperience with stringer machine technology for cell alignment, tabbing, and soldering. Hands-on experience operating, programming or maintaining a stringer machine is a strong plus. \nExperience with composite substrate and panel fabrication is a plus. \nFamiliarity with the design, routing, and integration of wire harnesses, including strain relief and termination to array’s power bus.\nExperience designing and manufacturing tooling, ground support equipment (GSE), and test equipment to support production and acceptance testing.\nExperience with thermal vacuum, electrical performance, and deployment testing of solar arrays and test coupons.\nFamiliarity with acceptance criteria, and rework/repair procedures, for solar cells and completed arrays.\nExperience authoring work instructions for the manufacturing, inspection, and testing of solar arrays and related avionics hardware.\nExperience documenting nonconformances, driving dispositions, and implementing corrective actions.\nProficiency in CAD software (e.g., Siemens NX) for reviewing designs and generating manufacturing documentation.\nFamiliarity 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..\nStrong problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead structured root cause analysis.\nStrong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.\nHands-on experience testing and troubleshooting solar array systems.\nKnowledge of lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies.\nStrong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, flight-worthy hardware.\nExperience supporting new product introduction (NPI) from prototype through production.\nAbility to provide clear, actionable design-for-manufacturing (DFM) feedback to engineering teams.\nAdditional Requirements:\nWillingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.\nFamiliarity with working in ESD and cleanroom environments ( ISO 7 or ISO 8).\nAbility to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.\nPay Range: California\n$120,000—$245,000 USD\nWe calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.\nCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS\n\nBase 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.\n\nU.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS\n 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.\nEQUAL OPPORTUNITY\nVast 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":9094,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Life insurance","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Aerospace Manufacturing","Solar Energy","Manufacturing","Space & Aerospace"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-15T13:23:20Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":16,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.449,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":50,"expected_fill_days":32,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":245000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/vastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/vastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T17:39:32Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":185145},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=185145"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fvastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fvastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fvastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/vastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fvastspace-avionics-manufacturing-engineer-solar-array"}]}