Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / Electromechanical / Harnessing)

The role

You will scale the production of spacecraft electromechanical assemblies including wire harness fabrication and connector installation. You will own manufacturing processes for payload systems and drive documented improvements for every vehicle produced.

What you will do

• Own end-to-end manufacturing and assembly processes for Varda payload systems
• Develop and maintain work instructions, assembly travelers, process specifications, and acceptance test procedures
• Serve as the primary manufacturing interface for payload customers
• Implement contamination control, cleanliness, and handling protocols
• Collaborate with payload design engineers to provide DFM and DFA feedback
• Define and execute payload acceptance testing, functional verification checkouts, and pre-integration inspections
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for payload non-conformances
• Coordinate payload integration milestones with the vehicle integration team

Required qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience (typically 3–6+ years)
• 3+ years of experience manufacturing electromechanical assemblies in electronics, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries
• Experience with wire harness fabrication, IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, and connector assembly
• Ability to trace a build defect to its root cause and design a durable fix
• Experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and connector pinouts
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills
• Physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods

Nice to have

• M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering specialized in Embedded Systems, Microelectronics, RF or Control Systems or related discipline
• Experience with spacecraft or launch vehicle electromechanical integration in a production environment
• Familiarity with ESD control practices, grounding/bonding requirements, and cleanliness protocols for flight hardware
• Experience writing or revising work instructions and MRB dispositions for electromechanical non-conformances
• Knowledge of cable routing in complex vehicle structures with thermal, vibration, and EMI constraints
• Hands-on experience with automated wire processing equipment or harness board tooling
• Background in transitioning electromechanical assemblies from engineering development to rate production
• Experience with PDM/PLM systems (e.g., Windchill, Teamcenter, Arena)
• Prior work at a small-to-mid-size aerospace company

Benefits

• Stock options
• Long-term cash awards

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual)
• Must be lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.

About the company

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, California.