Production Manager, Avionics Manufacturing

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 Demos 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 worlds 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 seeking a Production Manager Avionics Manufacturing reporting to the Manager of Avionics Manufacturing to support the development and production of the systems required for the design and construction of human-rated space Production Manager is responsible for the safe quality-driven and schedule-aligned execution of avionics manufacturing operations including wire harness assembly electromechanical integration cable fabrication box builds and avionics hardware assembly. This role leads frontline supervisors technicians and production personnel across multiple work centers and is accountable for meeting daily weekly and program-level production objectives while supporting continuous improvement and production scalability.

This will be a full-timeexempt position located in our Long Beachlocation.

Responsibilities:

• Own execution of daily avionics manufacturing operations including wire harness fabrication cable assemblies electromechanical builds and avionics integration activities
• Lead technicians assemblers and supervisors to safely achieve production throughput quality and delivery targets
• Ensure compliance with workmanship and quality standards including IPC/WHMA-A-620 IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 requirements
• Collaborate closely with Quality Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Supply Chain and Production Planning teams to resolve manufacturing issues and maintain production flow
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on labor efficiency throughput first-pass yield defect reduction and schedule adherence
• Identify production constraints related to materials tooling work instructions test equipment staffing and manufacturing processes and lead corrective actions
• Partner with the Quality Department to investigate nonconformances implement corrective actions and strengthen process controls
• Establish and maintain visual management systems production metrics and escalation paths to ensure clear visibility of manufacturing performance
• Lead efforts to improve manufacturing readiness and scalability supporting the transition from development builds to higher-rate production
• Optimize workstation layouts assembly processes material flow and production planning to support future growth
• Ensure manufacturing documentation travelers work instructions and process controls are accurate and maintained
• Support program milestones through proactive planning risk identification and recovery execution when required

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in aerospace defense automotive electronics manufacturing or other high-reliability production environments
• 2 years of experience leading technicians assemblers or production teams in an avionics electronics or electromechanical manufacturing environment
• Experience managing wire harness cable assembly electromechanical integration or avionics production activities

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Strong knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 workmanship standards
• Experience working cross-functionally with Quality Manufacturing Engineering Supply Chain Production Planning and Test Engineering organizations
• Familiarity with aerospace-quality management systems and controlled manufacturing environments
• Experience with wire harness fabrication cable routing connector assembly crimping soldering and avionics box-build integration
• Strong understanding of ESD controls configuration management and traceability requirements
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing 5S Kaizen PFMEA and continuous improvement methodologies
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings wiring diagrams schematics and assembly instructions
• Experience scaling manufacturing operations from prototype/development builds to low-rate and full-rate production
• Proven success improving first-pass yield reducing rework improving labor efficiency and increasing production throughput
• Strong understanding of production planning capacity management resource allocation and manufacturing KPI development

Additional Requirements:

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

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 Vasts 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 by22 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.