Spacecraft Technician ( Avionics Satellite Harness Manufacturing )

Varda Space Industries • El Segundo, CA

6h • $29 - $45 • Onsite

About The Position

The Spacecraft Technician (Avionics Satellite Harness Manufacturing) is responsible for manufacturing, assembling, inspecting, and testing electrical harnesses used on satellite bus, payload, and spacecraft systems. This role supports the production of flight-quality avionics hardware by following released drawings, schematics, wire lists, work instructions, and quality requirements. The ideal candidate has strong hands-on experience with harness fabrication, connector assembly, crimping, soldering, continuity testing, and flight hardware workmanship standards. This position requires attention to detail, strong documentation, and the ability to work closely with Engineering, Quality, Test, and Production teams.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, technical school certificate, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 5+ years of experience manufacturing electrical harnesses, cable assemblies, avionics hardware, or high-reliability wiring.
• Ability to read and understand electrical schematics, wire lists, harness drawings, connector pinout tables, work instructions, and bill of materials.
• Experience with crimping, soldering, wire stripping, connector assembly, and harness routing.
• Experience using hand tools, crimp tools, soldering tools, heat guns, multimeters, and basic electrical test equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
• Ability to follow written instructions and quality requirements.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.

Nice To Haves

• Aerospace, satellite, spacecraft, defense or high-reliability electronics experience.
• Experience manufacturing flight harnesses or avionics cable assemblies.
• Knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, or NASA workmanship standards.
• Experience with ESD-controlled and cleanroom environments.
• Experience performing continuity, hipot, insulation resistance, and functional testing.
• Experience with D-sub, Micro-D, circular, coax, RF, or high-density connectors.
• Experience with shield terminations, drain wires, grounding, and backshell assembly.
• Familiarity with NCR, MRB, redlines, ECOs, and configuration control.
• Experience working with Engineering and Quality during first builds or prototype builds.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture satellite electrical harnesses, cable assemblies, and wire bundles per released drawings and work instructions.
• Cut, strip, label, route, and terminate wires to required specifications.
• Perform crimping, soldering, splicing, shielding, grounding, and connector assembly.
• Install backshells, strain relief, sleeving, heat shrink, shielding, and identification labels.
• Maintain proper wire routing, bend radius, service loops, and separation requirements.
• Assemble harnesses using form boards, fixtures, and approved tooling.
• Support harness layout, mockup, and fit-check activities as needed.
• Perform continuity, resistance, insulation resistance, and pin-to-pin verification testing.
• Use multimeters, hipot testers, breakout boxes, and test equipment as required.
• Verify wire identification, connector pinouts, shielding, grounding, and labeling.
• Inspect workmanship for damaged wire, improper crimps, solder defects, connector damage, and routing issues.
• Support in-process inspection, final inspection, and Quality buy-off.
• Document test results and build records accurately.
• Complete work orders, inspection, and test documentation.
• Record serial numbers, lot numbers, tooling information, test results, and nonconformances.
• Follow configuration control and released engineering documentation.
• Identify drawing, bill of material, or work instruction issues and communicate them to Engineering and Quality.
• Support Issues, MRB, rework, repair, and root-cause activities as required.
• Maintain traceability for flight hardware, wire, connectors, consumables, and tooling.
• Follow ESD, FOD, cleanroom, and contamination-control procedures.
• Maintain a clean and organized workstation.
• Use calibrated tools and approved materials.
• Follow all safety procedures when using soldering equipment, heat tools, chemicals, and electrical test equipment.
• Handle flight hardware with care and follow company workmanship standards.

Benefits

• Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
• 401(k) matching (interns excluded)
• Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
• Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
• Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED