Lead Avionics Manufacturing Engineer

Lead Avionics Manufacturing Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $160,000 - $240,000 / year

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

The Lead Avionics Manufacturing Engineer will build and manage a team of manufacturing engineers responsible for the end-to-end manufacturing of high-reliability avionics hardware, spanning wire harness build and test, PCBA production, electromechanical assembly, environmental testing, and systems integration. You will define how avionics hardware gets built at Astrolab, setting standards, shaping manufacturable designs, and building the processes and team to execute at production scale.

What you'll do:

• Build and lead a team of avionics manufacturing engineers including hiring, setting technical direction, executing priorities, and fostering a culture of ownership, craftsmanship, and collaboration
• Own the full lifecycle of avionics manufacturing: process development, qualification, new product introduction, production ramp, and sustainment across harnessing, PCBA, and electromechanical assembly
• Partner with Responsible Engineers to drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFX) feedback, participate in design reviews, and shape designs for rate production
• Set team standards for manufacturing process development, validation, work instructions, and documentation in compliance with Astrolab quality processes and IPC workmanship standards
• Own production readiness, capacity planning, and delivery schedules for avionics hardware, coordinating with production, supply chain, and quality to meet vehicle integration milestones
• Root cause production failures and non-conformances, drive corrective actions to closure through the MRB process, and support vehicle-level failure investigations as needed

What you’ll bring:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) related field
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, or development of high-reliability electrical or electromechanical hardware
• Experience leading engineers and developing manufacturing processes for high-reliability electronics, including process qualification, tooling, and production documentation

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building, managing, and developing a team of manufacturing engineers
• Experience manufacturing avionics hardware for space applications, including wire harnessing, PCBA production, electromechanical assembly, or vehicle integration
• Experience with IPC workmanship standards such as J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620, including space addenda
• Experience with new product introduction, production ramp, and capacity planning in a flight hardware production environment
• Experience with MES and PLM systems, mBOM management, and production data platforms
• Experience with nonconformance, MRB, corrective action or change management processes in a flight hardware production environment

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
• Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks