Head of AIT

About the Role

Our Client is entering an exciting new phase of growth in the United States, establishing a major new 100,000+ sq. ft. satellite manufacturing facility in Los Angeles. This facility will provide the capability to assemble, integrate, and test increasingly sophisticated spacecraft and will become a critical part of Our Client's global manufacturing operations. As Head of Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T), you will take responsibility for establishing and leading the AI&T capability within this new operation. You will build the team, define processes, and shape the infrastructure from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Establish the US AI&T organization from the ground up, including processes, procedures, workflows, and operating standards.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of AI&T engineers and technicians.
• Define spacecraft assembly, integration, and test processes from subsystem through full spacecraft level.
• Establish cleanroom workflows, tooling, equipment, and infrastructure requirements.
• Lead spacecraft integration activities across mechanical, electrical, avionics, payload, and subsystem interfaces.
• Oversee functional testing and environmental qualification campaigns, including TVAC, vibration, shock, and EMI/EMC.
• Establish manufacturing and test readiness processes and reviews.
• Ensure AI&T activities meet programme requirements for quality, schedule, cost, and safety.
• Develop KPIs and operational metrics to measure performance, quality, and throughput.
• Work closely with engineering and programme leadership to identify and mitigate integration and test risks.
• Coordinate with external suppliers and specialist test partners where required.
• Drive continuous improvement as spacecraft volumes and complexity increase.
• Ensure lessons learned from integration and test campaigns are fed back into engineering and manufacturing.

Requirements

• 8+ years' experience within spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test or a closely related discipline.
• Significant experience working within satellite or spacecraft manufacturing.
• Leadership experience managing AI&T engineers and/or technicians.
• Experience building, scaling, or significantly improving an AI&T capability.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft assembly and integration processes.
• Hands-on knowledge of environmental testing, including thermal vacuum and vibration testing.
• Experience working within cleanroom environments.
• Understanding of high-reliability aerospace manufacturing and quality requirements.
• Experience working across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and programme organisations.
• Strong programme, schedule, resource, and risk-management capabilities.
• Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or another relevant engineering discipline.

Why This Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to build an AI&T capability from the ground up, shaping how spacecraft are assembled and tested in Los Angeles for years to come. You will influence the facility, select and develop the team, define processes, and establish the culture. For someone who has spent years building and testing spacecraft and has always thought, “I know how I'd build this if I had the opportunity” — this could be that opportunity.