Supervisor of Avionics Manufacturing, Development & Battery

Vast is looking for a Supervisor of Avionics Manufacturing, Development & Battery, reporting to Manager of Avionics and Testing, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Organize, coordinate, prioritize, and communicate day-to-day development builds and battery manufacturing work assignments for a technician team.

Take ownership of all development builds, ensuring rapid execution, proper tooling, and adherence to IPC and internal manufacturing standards.

Lead development efforts including electro-mechanical assembly, soldering, harnessing, and quick-turn prototype builds, ensuring builds are completed efficiently and with high quality.

Identify and implement required tooling, fixtures, and build processes necessary to support development and production readiness.

Own the battery manufacturing process from start to finish, including cell screening, cell populating, wire bonding, battery pack assembly, and final integration.

Ensure battery builds meet quality, safety, and traceability requirements, maintaining strict process control throughout manufacturing.

Drive non-conformance review meetings, working cross-functionally with engineering, quality, and operations teams to resolve issues and implement corrective actions.

Lead and demonstrate strong workmanship, accountability, and safety culture within the team.

Train, mentor, and onboard new technicians while supporting the professional development of existing team members.

Support team members in daily technical tasks, troubleshooting manufacturing challenges, and removing production blockers.

Collaborate closely with engineering teams during development phases, providing feedback on manufacturability, tooling requirements, and process improvements.

Assist with optimizing development and manufacturing processes for electronics and battery systems, focusing on efficiency, reliability, and repeatability.

Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing throughput, reduce defects, and enhance product quality.

Maintain laboratory and workshop areas, including cleanliness, consumables management, tool control, and maintaining build infrastructure.

Read and interpret technical drawings, work instructions, and engineering documentation to support build activities.

Operate in a fast-paced development environment, balancing quick-turn builds with structured manufacturing processes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in electronics manufacturing, electro-mechanical assembly, or battery manufacturing environments.
• At least 3 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role, managing technicians or production teams.
• High School Diploma or equivalency certificate.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Hands-on experience with development builds, prototyping, and rapid iteration environments.
• Experience working in a quality-controlled manufacturing environment such as AS9100, ISO9001, or similar systems.
• Strong understanding of IPC standards, soldering techniques, and electronics assembly processes.
• Hands-on experience with battery manufacturing processes, including cell screening, cell populating, wire bonding, and battery pack assembly.
• Strong understanding of electro-mechanical assembly, harnessing, and electronics integration.
• Experience working with engineering teams during product development cycles.
• Ability to identify tooling needs and develop efficient manufacturing workflows for new builds.
• Experience developing manufacturing documentation such as work instructions, build procedures, and standard operating procedures.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to lead root cause and corrective action investigations.
• Experience driving non-conformance resolution and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional teams including engineering, quality, and production.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality, reliable hardware.

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical development and production milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.