Avionics Manufacturing Engineer (PCBA) Hardware

Front Door Defense; Hawthorne, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Medical coverage

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

Disability insurance

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA seeks an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer (PCBA) to scale PCBA manufacturing for launch vehicles and spacecraft. You will own the full PCBA process from development to production, driving manufacturability, testability, and tooling improvements.

You will act as a bridge among avionics, supply chain, and production, implementing robust processes and leading continuous improvement across equipment and procedures. Strong problem-solving and hands‑on execution are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline is required.
• 1+ years of experience in design, manufacturing, and/or production of hardware systems.

Responsibilities

• liaison between avionics engineering, supply chain, and production to meet rate objectives.
• automate high-reliability manufacturing processes for independent operations.
• drive design updates in response to manufacturing issues and obsolescence.
• select and qualify new electronics manufacturing equipment.
• design, develop, validate, and implement tooling for repeatability.
• participate in design reviews for manufacturability and testability.
• serve as primary contact for non-conforming product and corrective actions.
• prepare docs for transition from development to production (SOPs, BOMs, drawings).
• develop training requirements for production personnel.
• work to challenge the status quo to support SpaceX goals.

Skills

Design for manufacturability

DFX

PCBAs

3D CAD

GD&T

X-Ray inspection

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

In-Circuit Testing

SMT

X-Ray

Job description

Avionics Manufacturing Engineer (PCBA)

Scale PCBA manufacturing processes from development to full production for SpaceX launch vehicles

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $100,000 - 160,000 USD / year

About The Role

Avionics Manufacturing Engineer (PCBA)

Hawthorne, CA

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

Avionics Manufacturing Engineer (PCBA)

The Avionics Manufacturing Engineering team is a highly interdisciplinary organization that is responsible for building the world's most advanced launch vehicles and spacecraft. In this role, you will own the full PCBA manufacturing process for SpaceX's launch vehicles, crew capsules, and exciting new programs key to SpaceX's success. Key responsibilities of this role include driving design for manufacturability, being the first contact for engineering decisions related to flight hardware, and championing continuous improvement of product, process, and equipment.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary liaison between avionics engineering, supply chain, production, etc. to ensure rate objectives are met through manufacturing and test.
• Implement, simplify, and automate high reliability manufacturing processes so that the production teams can operate independently of engineering.
• Work with peer engineering, and support teams to drive design updates in response to manufacturing issues, part obsolescence, and system requirement changes.
• Select and qualify new equipment for electronics manufacturing and drive continuous improvement on existing assets.
• Design, develop, validate, and implement tooling to ensure manufacturing repeatability and efficiency.
• Contribute to design reviews acting as an expert in design for manufacturability, design for testability, yield improvements, supplier capabilities assessments, quality control, etc.
• Primary point of contact for production non-conforming product, troubleshooting, root cause, failure investigations and corrective actions.
• Prepare engineering documentation necessary for the transition from development to production including assembly procedures, test procedures, standard operating procedures, schematic diagrams, bills of materials, suitable alternate parts lists and mechanical drawings.
• Develop training requirements for production personnel.
• Work creatively and innovative to support SpaceX's lofty goals by always being prepared to challenge the status quo.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in design, manufacturing, and/or production of mechanical or electrical hardware systems.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• 3+ years of professional experience in design and/or production of mechanical or electronics hardware systems.
• Experience implementing design for manufacture and design for test for PCBAs and electronics hardware.
• Experience developing and supporting PCBA manufacturing processes (i.e. In-Circuit Testing, SMT, X-Ray).
• Experience modeling with 3D CAD software, GD&T, and completing technical drawing reviews.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and 3D printing.
• Basic understanding of machining principals, equipment, and tooling.
• Basic understanding of electronic component functionality, circuit schematics, and PCBAs.
• Basic competency with SQL databases.
• Ability to create and deliver presentations for design and manufacturing readiness reviews.
• Hands‑on engineer with a passion for manufacturing.
• Capable of solving complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team.

Additional Requirements:

• Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones.

Compensation and Benefits:

Pay Range: Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of company stock or long‑term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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