Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / RF Electronics)

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Compensation: $100,000 - $200,000 / year

Description

As a Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / RF Electronics) at Impulse, you will work with cross-functional teams to build and test flight avionics hardware for space applications, with a focus on RF electronics such as radios, antennas, antenna hats and related electronic assemblies. You will own manufacturing readiness, production support, and test execution for RF hardware.

This role requires a strong understanding of PCBAs, antennas, RF hardware manufacturing, and test, with the ability to support a product throughout its lifecycle from design and development through flight builds and delivery.

Leveling will be commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and improve manufacturing processes for avionics RF hardware, including radios, antennas, antenna hats, RF mechanical assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies, and related space electronics
• Analyze manufacturing and test data to reduce defects, improve quality, increase first-pass yield, and implement process improvements
• Support failure analysis during prototype and production builds to determine root causes
• Collaborate with electrical design, mechanical design, and test automation teams to provide DFM/DFA feedback and improve manufacturability and testability
• Support production testing of RF and avionics hardware, including functional, performance, acceptance, and environmental testing
• Troubleshoot RF test failures and determine whether the root cause is associated with the hardware under test, test setup, instrumentation, or automated test system
• Support existing automated test systems by reviewing test logs and results, troubleshooting failures, and making small software or configuration changes as needed
• Develop and maintain production and test procedures, work instructions, manufacturing documentation, and troubleshooting guides
• Provide day-to-day support to the production floor, resolving build and test issues
• Provide technical guidance and training to manufacturing and test technicians
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure avionics and RF hardware meet reliability and performance requirements for space environments

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field
• 2+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, test engineering, electrical engineering, or production support involving space-grade or RF electronic hardware
• Experience supporting and troubleshooting the manufacturing and testing of electronic assemblies, avionics, RF hardware, or similar complex electronics
• Ability to systematically troubleshoot failures and distinguish between device failures, manufacturing defects, test equipment problems, test setup issues, and software or automation failures
• Experience interpreting electrical schematics, engineering drawings, test procedures, specifications, and manufacturing documentation
• Experience with failure analysis and root-cause investigation of electronic hardware
• Experience working with technicians to improve manufacturing processes and conduct technical training

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 3+ years of manufacturing, production test, or hardware engineering experience with avionics, RF electronics, communication systems, or spaceflight hardware
• Experience manufacturing and testing radios, antennas, antenna hats, amplifiers, filters, or other RF hardware
• Strong understanding of fundamental RF concepts and common RF measurements
• Hands-on experience with vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, RF signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, and RF test fixtures
• Experience troubleshooting RF test setups
• Experience with automated test environments using Python or similar tools
• Experience reviewing automated test logs, measurement data, and software output to identify whether failures originate in the test system or the hardware under test
• Experience with PCB/PCBA manufacturing, soldering processes, connectors, conformal coating, mechanical integration, or electromechanical assemblies
• Familiarity with workmanship and electronics manufacturing standards such as IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, or equivalent aerospace requirements
• Experience providing DFM, DFA, and DFT feedback for avionics or RF hardware
• Experience with environmental qualification and acceptance testing for spaceflight electronics
• Knowledge of common failure modes affecting RF and electronic hardware in launch and space environments
• Experience working closely with technicians in a fast-paced production environment and independently driving hardware and test issues to root cause

Additional Information:

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space's spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.