Supervisor, Avionics Manufacturing - Harnessing

About the role

Vast is looking for a Supervisor of Avionics Manufacturing - Harnessing, 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 wire harness fabrication and assembly work assignments for the second shift technician team, ensuring seamless 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 harness assembly techniques, workmanship standards, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 requirements, ensuring all personnel meet certification expectations.
• Support technicians in daily tasks including crimping, soldering, connector assembly, bundling, lacing, and harness routing in accordance with IPC/WHMA-A-620 acceptance criteria.
• Assist with optimizing the wire harness manufacturing process, considering factors such as cycle time, yield, quality, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining compliance with IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2 and Class 3 standards.
• Participate in design reviews, providing practical insight to improve the manufacturability, routability, and reliability of wire harness assemblies.
• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to establish, maintain, and enforce rigorous quality control processes aligned with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards, including in-process inspections and final acceptance testing.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to reduce defects, minimize rework, eliminate waste, and improve overall harness assembly quality and throughput.
• Meet demanding second shift production schedules to achieve high output rates while maintaining IPC/WHMA-A-620 compliance and adapting to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and well-stocked production area, including tool control, consumable inventory (heat shrink, terminals, connectors, lacing tape, etc.), and support of build infrastructure.
• Read and interpret technical drawings, wire lists, harness schematics, and work instructions to support assembly and inspection activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in a technical field, with a strong preference for candidates with a background in wire harness or aerospace cable assembly manufacturing.
• 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 wire harness fabrication processes including crimping, soldering, over-molding, potting, connector insertion/extraction, and continuity/hipot testing.
• Working knowledge of and experience operating within a formal quality management system such as AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent.
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS or CIT certification, with the ability to train and evaluate technicians to IPC workmanship standards.
• Experience with IPC-A-600, IPC J-STD-001, or other relevant IPC standards as they relate to harness and cable assembly manufacturing.
• Familiarity with military and aerospace harness standards such as MIL-DTL-22759, MIL-SPEC wire, AS22759, and NASM hardware specifications.
• Experience creating and maintaining manufacturing documentation such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions, and Inspection Criteria aligned with IPC/WHMA-A-620.
• Experience with CAD or harness design tools (such as Siemens Capital or similar) for reviewing harness drawings and wire lists.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to perform structured root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions for workmanship defects.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and process improvement methodologies (Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen) as applied to harness production.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with ability to interface effectively with engineering, quality, and program management teams.
• Strong attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to producing harness assemblies that meet or exceed IPC/WHMA-A-620 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.

Pay

California $96,760—$137,352 USD

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.