Full-Time
Spacecraft Manufacturing Engineer
Updated on 9/3/2026
Apex
201-500 employees
Manufactures ESPA-class satellites and bus
Compensation Overview
$124k - $165k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
Los Angeles, CA, USA
In Person
Bachelor's
 Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- U.S. Persons status is required because the position needs access to export-controlled data.
- A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience, is required.
- At least 7 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, assembly, and integration, ideally in a high-production-rate environment, is required.
- A strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes is required.
- Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documents is required.
- Experience developing manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions is required.
- Experience with manufacturing tools and software such as computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, product lifecycle management, or enterprise resource planning systems is required.
- Experience planning or executing electrical or functional testing of components or full spacecraft is required.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues in a fast-paced environment, are required.
- The ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders is required.
- The ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously is required.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and business needs is required.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop manufacturing plans and strategies for aerospace components and systems, ensuring efficient and reliable production processes.
- Design, optimize, and implement assembly and integration procedures, work instructions, and manufacturing tools and fixtures.
- Lead the cut-in and ramp-up of new products with engineering and production teams, and own the transition of products from development to production.
- Work closely with design engineers to review product designs for manufacturability and provide feedback to improve production efficiency and ease of assembly.
- Develop and implement quality control measures, including inspection criteria, test plans, and non-conformance resolution processes, to ensure adherence to specifications and industry standards.
- Support the manufacturing of aerospace components and systems by troubleshooting issues and implementing corrective actions to maintain production schedules and quality targets.
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and improve product quality and reliability.
- Ensure compliance with safety regulations and best practices throughout manufacturing and integration processes.
- Stay updated with advancements and best practices in aerospace manufacturing, assembly, and integration technologies.
- Provide technical support and guidance to production personnel, resolve technical issues, and provide training as needed.
- Knowledge of quality control methodologies, including inspection techniques and root cause analysis.
- Familiarity with industry standards and best practices in aerospace manufacturing, such as AS9100 or similar quality management systems.
- Experience programming with Python or LabVIEW.
- Experience with environmental testing, including vibration, thermal, or pneumatic testing.
- Familiarity with spacecraft subsystem interactions and experience making cross-functional design decisions and trades.
Apex Space designs and builds ESPA-class satellite buses like the Aries bus for space missions. The Aries bus can host payloads up to 94 kilograms with a total wet mass of up to 197 kilograms, enabling missions in LEO and compatibility with MEO, GEO, and deep space. They sell customizable satellite buses to government, commercial, and research clients for Earth observation, communications, and science, with options for performance upgrades and post-reservation configurations. They differentiate themselves with guaranteed on-time delivery, high reliability, and transparent pricing, aiming to provide reliable, configurable platforms that simplify access to space for diverse missions.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Late Stage VC
Total Funding
$718.5M
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
2020
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- June 5, 2026 funding added over $200 million for campus expansion and hiring.
- Comet XL targets Starship-class missions, opening larger defense and orbital-compute deals.
- AnySignal and KSAT partnerships reduce customer friction and broaden Apex's mission stack.
What critics are saying
- Northrop Grumman's Golden Dome work ties Apex to volatile Pentagon procurement timelines.
- Project Shadow launches NET June 2026; failure would damage credibility and customer trust.
- Apex's $2.3 billion valuation leaves little room if production ramps slip or orders stall.
What makes Apex unique
- Apex sold out production through 2027 and 2028, signaling real manufacturing scarcity.
- Apex vertically integrates propulsion, buses, and mission services faster than legacy primes.
- Apex pairs satellite buses with KSAT and AnySignal for end-to-end mission operations.
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Benefits
Shared upside
Best-in-class healthcare
Comprehensive PTO package
Competitive 401(k) plan
8 weeks paid parental leave
Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
Vibrant community
Your dream desk setup
World-class Playa Vista office
Real impact opportunity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↓ -4%2 year growth
↑ 2%AnySignal has partnered with Apex to offer its AnyLink communications services on Apex's satellite platforms. The collaboration builds on the successful on-orbit performance of AnySignal's networking software aboard Apex spacecraft. The partnership allows customers to design missions using a single integrated platform from conception through on-orbit operations. AnyLink aggregates multiple ground station networks into one unified platform, providing continuous spacecraft connectivity rather than requiring manual handoffs between providers. AnySignal develops software-defined radios and space-based networking systems for civil, commercial, and national security applications. Apex manufactures standardised satellite platforms, with production capacity ramping to 200 buses per year at its Los Angeles facility. The company's Aries, Nova, and Comet product lines serve both commercial operators and US defence primes.
Apex Technology has filed a notice with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to $156.8 million in new funding. The filing was made under an exempt offering of securities without registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Founded in 2022 by CEO Ian Cinnamon and CTO Max Benassi, Apex addresses satellite production bottlenecks by mass-manufacturing spacecraft. The company aims to help the US and its allies maintain strategic advantage in the space race through scaled satellite production. Apex offers three product lines — Aries, Nova, and Comet — serving missions from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit. The company focuses on short lead times, constellation-scale production, and highly reliable spacecraft.
Toyota Racing Development partners with Apex for satellites. TrendPulse AI Analysis This article covers business trends, sourced from Fortune. Its AI system has analyzed the key points and extracted the most relevant insights for decision-makers. Below is the structured breakdown of the original content. Quick summary. * Toyota Racing Development (TRD) is applying high-volume automotive manufacturing precision to the production of satellite components for the aerospace startup Apex. * This partnership aims to bridge the gap between bespoke, low-volume aerospace manufacturing and the high-scale, rigorous quality standards required for modern satellite constellations. * With an estimated 100,000 satellites projected for launch over the next five years, the collaboration highlights a strategic shift toward industrializing space hardware production. Key details. Apex, a Los Angeles-based startup valued at $2.3 billion, is leveraging the expertise of Toyota Ventures to revolutionize how satellites are built. By partnering with TRD, the team behind Toyota and Lexus race cars, Apex is adopting automotive supply chain and quality control methodologies to produce structural components like bulkheads and base decks. These parts require extreme precision, mirroring the "ridiculous tolerances" demanded by high-performance racing. "Race cars are the prime example, in everything from how you manage your supply chain, to how you think about the quality bar. When you're dealing with a race car going 100-plus miles per hour, carrying a human, that thing cannot fail. And you need to be building them at some scale." This collaboration addresses a fundamental bottleneck in the aerospace sector: the reliance on slow, artisanal manufacturing processes. Apex cofounder Ian Cinnamon argues that the future of space infrastructure depends on standardized, high-quality production that mimics the automotive industry's ability to scale. TRD serves as the ideal partner, operating in the "middle ground" between mass-market vehicle production and the ultra-precise, low-volume requirements of traditional aerospace engineering. Why this matters. This partnership signals a broader trend of cross-industry pollination, where automotive manufacturing prowess is becoming a critical asset for the burgeoning space economy. As the demand for satellite constellations grows, the ability to produce reliable hardware at scale will determine which companies dominate the orbital landscape. Investors should view this as a validation of "industrialized space," where the winners will be those who can reduce costs through manufacturing efficiency rather than relying on traditional, high-cost aerospace methods. For industry professionals, this shift suggests that the next wave of aerospace innovation will not come from traditional rocket science alone, but from the integration of automotive-grade supply chain management. Companies that successfully adapt these high-volume, high-precision techniques will likely capture significant market share as the orbital environment becomes increasingly crowded and commercially vital. The bottom line. By importing automotive manufacturing scale into the aerospace sector, Toyota and Apex are setting a new standard for the rapid, reliable production of critical satellite infrastructure. Original source: Fortune This article has been processed and analyzed by TrendPulse AI for informational purposes. Content may have been summarized or restructured for clarity.
Space startup Apex doubles valuation to $2.3 billion in new funding. 05 Jun 2026 10:17PM (Updated: 06 Jun 2026 01:57PM) Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. June 5: Space startup Apex has more than doubled its valuation to $2.3 billion in under a year after raising over $200 million in a new funding round, the firm said on Friday, underscoring growing investor interest in the sector. The fundraise comes amid heightened investor enthusiasm in space exploration and defense, driven by expanding commercial satellite networks, government-led defense opportunities and buzz around a SpaceX IPO. Here are some more details: - The funding round was led by Glade Brook Capital Partners and co-led by Washington Harbour Partners with participation from existing investors. - New capital will accelerate Apex's expansion of its satellite manufacturing campus and fund "ahead-of-need manufacturing" of its satellite platforms, the company said. - Founded in 2022, Apex builds satellite buses designed to host commercial and government payloads such as Earth-imaging capabilities and sensors for missile tracking and defense. - Earlier this week, Northrop Grumman said it will collaborate with Apex to support the development of U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense project. - Apex also named Michael Kopet as its chief financial officer. - The company was valued at $1 billion in September last year after raising $200 million in a funding round.
Apex raises $200 million to boost hiring and vertical integration. Friday, June 5th, 2026 Satellite bus manufacturer Apex on Friday said it raised more than $200 million in a new investment round to add more engineers, continue vertical integration of satellite production, and provide customers with more mission services. Glade Brook Partners and Washington Harbour Partners led the funding round. Apex is adding 30,000 square feet to the company's Factory One office complex in Los Angeles to accommodate more engineers focused on different stages of the satellite bus supply line/production and to help customers... Not a subscriber or registered user yet? Please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.