Supervisor, Avionics Manufacturing - Electro Mechanical

Vast is looking for a Supervisor of Avionics Manufacturing - Electro Mechanical, reporting to Manager of Avionics Manufacturing, 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.

Shift hours:

• Second shift: 2:00PM - 10:30PM

Responsibilities:

• Organize, coordinate, prioritize, and communicate day-to-day electro-mechanical and electronics assembly work assignments for the second shift technician team, ensuring smooth and productive continuity from first shift operations.
• Lead, mentor, and model a strong work ethic, safety culture, and quality-first mindset on the production floor.
• Train and onboard new team members in electronics assembly techniques, soldering workmanship standards, and IPC J-STD-001 requirements, ensuring all personnel meet and maintain applicable soldering certification expectations.
• Support technicians in daily tasks including through-hole and surface mount soldering, component placement, PCB assembly, electro-mechanical integration, wire termination, connector assembly, and conformal coating in accordance with IPC J-STD-001 acceptance criteria.
• Assist with optimizing the electronics and electro-mechanical manufacturing process, considering factors such as cycle time, yield, quality, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining compliance with IPC J-STD-001 Class 2 and Class 3 standards.
• Participate in design reviews, providing practical manufacturing insight to improve the solderability, assemblability, and reliability of electronic and electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to establish, maintain, and enforce rigorous quality control processes aligned with IPC J-STD-001 workmanship standards, including in-process inspections, solder joint evaluations, and final acceptance testing.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to reduce soldering defects, minimize rework, eliminate waste, and improve overall electronics assembly quality and throughput.
• Meet demanding second shift production schedules to achieve high output rates while maintaining IPC J-STD-001 compliance and adapting to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and well-stocked production area, including ESD controls, tool control, consumable inventory (solder, flux, cleaning agents, conformal coating materials, etc.), and support of build infrastructure.
• Read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, assembly drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and work instructions to support assembly and inspection activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a technical field, with a strong preference for candidates with a background in electronics or electro-mechanical assembly manufacturing, preferably within the aerospace or defense industry.
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role, with demonstrated ability to guide, motivate, and manage production teams.
• High School Diploma or equivalency certificate.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• In-depth understanding of electronics and electro-mechanical manufacturing processes including SMT (Surface Mount Technology), through-hole soldering, hand soldering, rework and repair, conformal coating, potting, electro-mechanical integration, and functional/electrical testing.
• IPC J-STD-001 CIS or CIT certification, with the ability to train, evaluate, and certify technicians to IPC soldering workmanship standards.
• Working knowledge of and experience operating within a formal quality management system such as AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent.
• Solid working knowledge of IPC J-STD-001 soldering standards; IPC J-STD-001 CIS (Certified IPC Specialist) or CIT (Certified IPC Trainer) certification is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with complementary IPC standards including:
• IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies)
• IPC-7711/7721 (Rework, Modification, and Repair of Electronic Assemblies)
• IPC-HDBK-001 (J-STD-001 Supporting Handbook)
• J-STD-004/005/006 (Requirements for Flux, Solder Paste, and Solder Alloys)
• Experience with ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) control practices and compliance with ANSI/ESD S20.20 standards in an electronics manufacturing environment.
• Experience creating and maintaining manufacturing documentation such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions, Routers, and Inspection Criteria aligned with IPC J-STD-001.
• Experience with CAD or EDA tools (such as Altium, Siemens NX, or similar) for reviewing electronic assembly drawings, schematics, and BOMs.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to perform structured root cause analysis (RCA) and implement effective corrective actions for soldering and assembly defects.
• Hands-on experience with functional testing, electrical testing, and troubleshooting of electronic and electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and process improvement methodologies (Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen) as applied to electronics manufacturing.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to interface effectively with engineering, quality, and program management teams.
• Strong attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to producing assemblies that meet or exceed IPC J-STD-001 Class 3 acceptance criteria.

Additional Requirements

• Availability to work second shift on a consistent schedule, with willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical production milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.