Senior Spacecraft Assembly & Validation Engineer

Socket.dev; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to own one or more build areas in our growing factory, such as GNC component validation, solar array assembly, or antenna build. You’ll shepherd end-to-end manufacturing processes from tooling to inspection and release to integration.

You will bring hands-on experience developing manufacturing workflows for high‑reliability electro‑mechanical hardware, define fixtures, manage nonconformances, mentor technicians, and partner with design engineering

Qualifications

• End-to-end ownership of a mechanical assembly process.
• Ability to interpret drawings, GD&T, and specs.
• Hands-on metrology experience with calipers, micrometers, torque tools.
• Experience with nonconformance management and CAPA.
• Collaborates with design and manufacturing teams to improve producibility.

Responsibilities

• Own the manufacturing and assembly process for assigned build areas, including sequencing, tooling, and continuous improvement.
• Define validation/verification strategy from drawings to inspection checkpoints.
• Plan, qualify fixtures and tooling, and manage test/inspection equipment.
• Own nonconformance management, root cause analysis, and MRB disposition.
• Create and maintain digital work instructions and travelers with data capture.
• Develop gage R&R and measurement confidence; support environmental testing.
• Support supplier evaluation and audits for mechanical components.
• Champion DFX/producibility in design reviews and mentor engineers/technicians.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering

End-to-end ownership

GD&T interpretation

Mechanical metrology

CAPA & 8D

Supplier audits

Mentoring

Education

B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering

Advanced degree (M.S./Ph.D.)

Tools

MES/ERP systems

Job description

Xona is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to own one or more build areas in our growing factory, such as GNC component validation, solar array assembly, or antenna build. You’ll shepherd end-to-end manufacturing processes from tooling to inspection and release to integration.

You will bring hands-on experience developing manufacturing workflows for high‑reliability electro‑mechanical hardware, define fixtures, manage nonconformances, mentor technicians, and partner with design engineering