Lead Avionics Manufacturing Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Hawthorne, California; hybrid workplace

Salary: $160,000–$240,000 per year

Company

Astrolab designs and builds lunar rovers, power systems, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon.

What you will do

• Build and lead a team of avionics manufacturing engineers, including hiring, technical direction, priority setting, and team development.
• Own the full manufacturing lifecycle for avionics hardware across wire harnessing, PCBA production, and electromechanical assembly.
• Develop and qualify manufacturing processes, support new product introduction and production ramp, and sustain production.
• Partner with responsible engineers on design-for-manufacturability feedback, design reviews, and production-ready designs.
• Define standards for process validation, work instructions, documentation, and IPC-compliant workmanship.
• Coordinate production readiness, capacity planning, delivery schedules, quality activities, and corrective actions for vehicle integration milestones.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field.
• 5+ years of experience manufacturing, producing, or developing high-reliability electrical or electromechanical hardware.
• Experience leading engineers and developing manufacturing processes for high-reliability electronics.
• Experience with process qualification, tooling, and production documentation.
• Experience with root-cause analysis, non-conformances, MRB, corrective actions, or change management.
• Experience with IPC workmanship standards, including J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, or IPC/WHMA-A-620, is preferred.

Nice to have

• Experience manufacturing avionics hardware for space applications.
• Experience with new product introduction, production ramp, and capacity planning for flight hardware.
• Experience with MES, PLM, mBOM management, and production data platforms.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive environment focused on trust, diverse perspectives, purposeful execution, and measurable impact.
• Equity ownership in the company.
• Medical, dental, vision, and mental health benefits.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Flexible PTO, parental leave, lunch stipend, and on-site snacks and beverages.

Hiring process

• Application review and recruiter phone interview.
• Video interviews followed by an on-site interview.
• Offer and hiring decision.