Director of Engineering, Manufacturing

Key Responsibilities

• Transition programs from development to repeatable production
• Define make vs. buy strategy across all subsystems
• Drive capacity planning, rate readiness, and production forecasting
• Establish lean manufacturing systems across machining, avionics, harnessing, and parachutes
• Reduce cycle time, improve yield, and optimize throughput
• Implement KPIs for safety, quality, cost, and delivery
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Oversee precision CNC machining operations (5-axis capability)
• Ensure alignment between manufacturing engineering and shop floor execution
• Drive programming standards, tooling strategy, and fixture optimization
• Implement scalable harness fabrication processes with strong QA controls
• Improve repeatability and documentation for flight hardware
• Develop production and inspection standards for parachute systems
• Ensure quality and traceability for critical recovery hardware
• Build scalable soft goods manufacturing capability
• Build and lead a high-performing manufacturing organization
• Develop frontline leaders and technical experts
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and urgency
• Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Flight Operations
• Define capital equipment strategy and facility layout
• Support facility expansion planning
• Implement MRP/ERP and production tracking systems

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, including leadership roles
• Proven experience scaling hardware production from prototype to flight or production rate
• Deep understanding of machining, assembly, and aerospace quality standards
• Experience overseeing cross-functional manufacturing disciplines (electrical + mechanical)
• Strong background in lean manufacturing and process optimization
• Experience building organizations from the ground up
• Familiarity with aerospace regulatory and quality frameworks
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in launch vehicles, spacecraft, re-entry systems, or high-reliability aerospace hardware
• Experience standing up new manufacturing facilities
• Advanced engineering degree (Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related field)