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Spacecraft Technician (Avionics Satellite Harness Manufacturing) Verified today

Varda Space · El Segundo, CA · Electronics · first seen 2026-09-03
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About Varda

Varda is accelerating commercial space infrastructure. We design, build, and operate W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, reentry capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses. Our headquarters and production facility are in El Segundo, California.

The Role

As a Spacecraft Technician, you manufacture, assemble, inspect, and test electrical harnesses for satellite bus, payload, and spacecraft systems. You follow released drawings, schematics, wire lists, and work instructions to produce flight-quality avionics hardware. You work closely with Engineering, Quality, Test, and Production teams.

What You Will Do

Harness Manufacturing and Assembly

  • Manufacture satellite electrical harnesses, cable assemblies, and wire bundles per released drawings and work instructions
  • Cut, strip, label, route, and terminate wires to specification
  • 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

Inspection and Testing

  • Perform continuity, resistance, insulation resistance, and pin-to-pin verification testing
  • Use multimeters, hipot testers, breakout boxes, and test equipment
  • 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

Documentation and Quality

  • 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
  • Maintain traceability for flight hardware, wire, connectors, consumables, and tooling

Safety, Cleanliness, and Compliance

  • 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

Required Qualifications

  • 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

Preferred Qualifications

  • 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

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while performing detailed harness work
  • Ability to use hand tools and small tools for precision assembly
  • Ability to lift up to 25 to 35 lbs as needed
  • Ability to work under magnification or with small connector pins and contacts
  • Ability to work in an ESD-controlled or cleanroom environment
  • Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity

Work Environment

This role is performed in an aerospace manufacturing, avionics build, and satellite integration environment. Work may be performed at a bench, on form boards, in an ESD area, or near satellite flight hardware. Some overtime, weekend work, or schedule flexibility may be required to support production milestones.

Pay Range

  • Technician I: $29.75 to $35 per hour
  • Technician II: $36 to $42 per hour
  • Sr. Technician: $43 to $52 per hour

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance. You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

ITAR Requirements

Varda hires only US persons who are permitted to have access to export-controlled technology without an export license. US person means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum). Varda participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program.