Avionics Manufacturing Engineer
Vast · Long Beach, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $140k–$205k
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Vast (aerospace & defense) in Long Beach, CA. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite , a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, Tooling, CATIA / NX
- Base pay
- $140k–$205k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $114k–$168k. This one lists $140k–$205k.
Median of the low and high ends of 138 live postings that list pay, out of 369 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 368 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 28% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $110k–$159k, from 120 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 52%
- ✓ New product launch 50%
- ✓ Root cause 40%
- Automation 36%
- ✓ CATIA / NX 28%
- Machining 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Vast
We found 2 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Joanne → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Vast in Long Beach
27 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in manufacturing roles at Vast.
- Controls & Automation Engineer · Controls
- Avionics System Test Operations Engineer · Production
- Senior Supplier Reliability Engineer · Reliability · Senior
- Supplier Reliability Engineer - Metallic Materials & Processes · Reliability
- Additive Manufacturing Specialist · Manufacturing · Specialist
- Build Reliability Engineer - Avionics · Reliability
Full description from VastAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Collaborate with design teams to provide professional feedback on the manufacturability and assembly processes, of a variety of human spaceflight systems and related hardware
- ◆Support new product introduction and the development of manufacturing processes to support avionics hardware
- ◆Support the sustainment of legacy products while developing process and product improvements to meet integration timelines, improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness
- ◆Create and maintain detailed manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent and accurate production of avionics hardware
- ◆Design and implement tooling to improve production processes, aid in inspection, and ensure safety
- ◆Identify and resolve manufacturing challenges by conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions (RCCA)
- ◆Work closely with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of high-quality avionics components, reviewing and approving supplier manufacturing processes
- ◆Perform hands-on assembly, integration, and testing, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications and industry standards
- ◆Participate in design reviews, providing valuable insights to improve the manufacturability and reliability of avionics hardware
- ◆Collaborate with quality assurance teams to establish and maintain rigorous quality control processes for avionics manufacturing
- ◆Work closely with team members, mentoring less experienced team members on avionics manufacturing and collaborating with all team members on documentation review and product support
- ◆Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall product quality
- ◆Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in avionics manufacturing to drive innovation within the company
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
- ✓2 + years of experience in manufacturing engineering, preferably in the aerospace, avionics industry, satellite manufacturing, and/or electronic warfare systems
Preferred Skills & Experience
- ✓Strong understanding of avionics, transmitters/radios, avionics navigational equipment, avionics power systems, electronics manufacturing processes, and assembly techniques
- ✓Proficiency in CAD software (such as Siemens NX) for reviewing designs and creating manufacturing documentation
- ✓Familiarity with industry standards and regulations relevant to avionics manufacturing, such as IPC standards
- ✓Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to perform root cause analysis
- ✓Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross- functional teams
- ✓Hands-on experience with testing and troubleshooting avionics systems is desirable
- ✓Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies is a plus
- ✓Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work
- ✓Ability to manage new product introduction
- ✓Ability to effectively provide design for manufacturing feedback
Additional
Requirements
- ✓Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- ✓Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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, reporting to the Senior Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, to support the development of a variety of products and systems that will be required for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA location.
As an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a unique and crucial role in the development and manufacturing of avionics assemblies and components for our portfolio of space products, ranging from flight computers and life-support systems, to navigational and communications equipment. 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.
Pay Range
- •Avionics Manufacturing Engineer II: 120,000 - $170,000
- •Senior Avionics Manufacturing Engineer: $140,000 - $205,000
- •Staff Avionics Manufacturing Engineer: $170,000 - $245,000
Pay Range: California
$120,000 — $245,000 USD