Manager, PCB Design

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long‑term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero‑gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven‑1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low‑Earth orbit in 2026.

It is part of our stepping stone approach to continuous human presence in LEO. Our team is all‑in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time.

Vast is looking for a Manager, PCB Design
, reporting to the Senior Manager, Avionics Engineering
, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial‑gravity human‑rated space stations.

This will be a full‑time
, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

• Lead and manage the PCB Design Team, ensuring high‑quality and timely delivery of PCB designs that meet project requirements.
• Collaborate closely with engineers and cross‑functional teams to translate system requirements into PCB designs.
• Oversee the design and layout of custom printed circuit boards, adhering to IPC design standards and guidelines.
• Manage relationships with vendors, ensuring PCB stack‑up and routing meet design for manufacturing (DFM) guidelines.
• Ensure the team's designs meet all necessary design requirements, including high‑speed, impedance‑controlled stack‑up, and multi‑layer board layout standards.
• Lead the generation of necessary artworks and drawings for fabrication and assembly.
• Develop, refine, and implement team processes for PCB design, part creation, and library/database management.
• Maintain and oversee design workflows within Altium Vault, ensuring best practices are followed.
• Mentor and train team members in PCB layout best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identify and implement opportunities for automation within the PCB design process, including script development.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field
• 5+ years of PCB design experience
• 1+ years in a leadership role
• Extensive experience with Altium Designer CAD tool and PCB library management.
• Proven track record of designing high‑speed, impedance‑controlled stack‑ups and multi‑layer board layouts.
• In‑depth knowledge of fine pitch BGA routing, including blind and buried vias, multi‑rail power delivery, and high‑speed signal integrity constraints.
• Experience in managing design constraints, including trace length matching and spacing rules.

• Extensive experience with PCB library management, component generation, high‑speed digital and mixed signal board layout, floor planning.
• Strong knowledge of IPC 2221A, IPC 6012 Class 3, and IPC 7351 standards.
• Experience with various board types, including high‑density digital designs with 14 layers or more, power electronics, flex circuits, and RF circuits.
• Deep understanding of PCB fabrication processes, limitations, design rules, and industry best practices.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with a proven ability to manage and motivate a team in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

$150,000 - $175,000 USD (California)

Base salary will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full‑time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non‑exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, Class Pass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other…