Space Electronics / Harness Technician

Zero to One Search | Recruitment Agency; City of Johnstown (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

401(k) with company match

Premium coffee and snacks

Dog friendly office

Generous parental leave

Flexible PTO and sick leave

Team events

Discounted pet health insurance

Job summary

Zero to One Search | Recruitment Agency is seeking a Space Electronics / Harness Technician to fabricate and assemble high‑reliability harnesses for spaceflight hardware. You will perform precision soldering, crimping, shielding, and testing, ensuring compliance with NASA/IPC standards in a fast‑paced environment.

You will help establish in‑house harness capabilities, set up tooling and test benches, and support scaling production for in‑space manufacturing programs, with potential travel to

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or equivalent; technical certs are an asset.
• 3+ years in precision cable/harness fabrication for aerospace/high‑reliability electronics.
• Certification in spaceflight electrical standards (NASA/IPC) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate, assemble, route, and terminate high‑reliability electrical harnesses.
• Perform precision soldering, crimping, potting, shielding, and testing per NASA/IPC standards.
• Inspect incoming raw wires, connectors, and back shells; verify pin‑outs and insulation resistance.
• Assist engineers in routing harnesses on flight structures and test fixtures.
• Redline drawings, wire run lists, and SOPs to reflect as‑built configurations.

Skills

Cable harnessing

Soldering

Reading schematics

Electrical testing

Cleanroom handling

FOD/ESD controls

High reliability electronics

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree or vocational cert in Electronics/Aerospace

Tools

DMM

Kelvin meters

Cirris/DIT-MCO harness testers

Calibrated crimp tools

Wire strippers

Job description

The success of every mission depends on flawless execution. Your job is to build the critical electrical nervous systems that power and control spaceflight hardware so that it's ready for launch.

As a Space Electronics / Harness Technician, you will be responsible for the fabrication, assembly, inspection, and rework of high-reliability spaceflight harnesses for Dcubed's in-space manufacturing, solar array, and mechanism products. From cutting, stripping, crimping, and precision hand soldering to wire routing, potting, shielding, and continuity/hi-pot testing, you will ensure every electrical assembly meets the most demanding aerospace standards.

In addition to building flight harnesses, you will play an active role in helping establish Dcubed's in-house harness and electronics assembly capabilities. You will help set up and organize the new wire harness work cell, commission specialized harness assembly tooling and test benches, assist in developing manufacturing work instructions, and contribute to scaling repeatable production lines for spaceflight hardware.

This is a hands-on role for a skilled technician who takes deep pride in precision craftsmanship, thrives in cleanroom and laboratory environments, and is passionate about building reliable space hardware.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate, assemble, route, and terminate high-reliability electrical harnesses, cables, and sensor wiring for spaceflight mechanisms and solar arrays.
• Perform high-precision soldering, crimping, splicing, potting, heat-shrinking, shielding, and lacing/spot-tying in accordance with NASA/IPC standards.
• Execute incoming inspection of raw wire, connectors (micro-D, D-sub, circular, nanos, Harwin), back shells, contacts, and related electronic components.
• Perform electrical verification and checkout tests, including point-to-point continuity, pin-out verification, insulation resistance, and dielectric withstanding voltage (Hi-Pot) testing.
• Assist engineers in assembling, routing, and securing electrical harnesses onto mechanical flight structures, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and custom test fixtures.
• Support the setup, tooling selection, and commissioning of the harness fabrication shop and cleanroom workstation in Dcubed's growing US facility.
• Work with manufacturing and AIT engineers to build form boards, layout fixtures, and harness routing jigs.
• Redline engineering drawings, wire run lists, schematics, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reflect as-built configurations.
• Support rework, modifications, and repair of cable assemblies and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) as necessary.
• Maintain rigorous Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) controls, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention, and cleanroom protocol compliance.
• Maintain strict lot traceability, calibration status for specialized crimp/strip/torque tooling, and detailed Traveler/Work Order documentation.

Experience & Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate degree or vocational certification in Electronics, Aerospace Technology, or a related technical discipline is an advantage.
• 3+ years of experience in precision cable/harness fabrication and assembly within aerospace, spaceflight, defense, medical device, or high-reliability electronics industries.
• Current or prior certification in spaceflight electrical standards (e.g., NASA-STD-8739.4 / IPC/WHMA-A-620 Space Addendum for crimping/harnessing, and NASA-STD-8739.3 / IPC-J-STD-001 Space Addendum for soldering).
• Proven experience working with miniature and ultra-miniature connectors (e.g., Micro-D, Nano-D, Gecko, MIL-DTL-38999, sub-miniature circulars).
• Demonstrated experience with automated and manual wire strippers, calibrated crimp tools, positioners, heat guns, and pin insertion/extraction tools.
• Experience setting up or organizing an electronics/harness assembly bench or work cell is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel for training, onboarding, or integration support (including potential travel to Munich, Germany).

Technical Skills

• Mastery of cable harnessing techniques: wire stripping, precision crimping, connector assembly, potting/encapsulation, braiding/shielding, and strain relief installation.
• Proficiency in hand soldering fine-pitch contacts, splices, solder cups, and surface-mount/through-hole components under a microscope.
• Ability to read, interpret, and work directly from complex electrical schematics, wire harness drawings, interconnect diagrams, and detailed work instructions.
• Hands-on proficiency with electrical test equipment, including digital multimeters (DMMs), milliohm meters (4-wire Kelvin), LCR meters, and automated harness testers (e.g., Cirris, DIT-MCO).
• Working knowledge of cleanroom protocols (ISO Class 7/8), ESD-safe handling, and strict FOD prevention practices.
• Familiarity with aerospace-grade materials, outgassing considerations, Kapton/Tefzel/PTFE wiring, and expandable braided sleeving.
• Familiarity with NASA, ECSS, IPC, or MIL-STD quality and workmanship specifications.

Personal Attributes

• Meticulous attention to detail and high manual dexterity when working with delicate components and fine-gauge wiring under magnification.
• Strong sense of ownership, personal accountability, and commitment to flight-quality standards.
• Practical, hands-on mindset with an enthusiasm for building real space hardware.
• Clear, transparent communication skills; proactive in speaking up when an anomaly, discrepancy, or tooling issue occurs.
• Comfortable working in an agile, fast-paced startup environment where processes and facilities are actively being built.
• Flexibility to support critical project milestones or shift schedules when required.
• A US Person as defined by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
• Salary range: $70,000 - 95,000 per year (based on experience and qualification)
• Flexible PTO and sick leave
• Generous parental leave
• Hybrid work flexibility when applicable
• Premium Coffee, Beverage, and Snack Bar at the office
• Dog friendly environment
• Team events
• Opportunities for professional growth with a rapidly scaling aerospace company
• 401(k), plus company matching
• Discounted Pet Health Insurance