Production Operations Manager

About the company

At AstroForge, our mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth. We mine asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than current terrestrial mining methods. Along the way, we seek to leverage the technologies we build to provide additional value across other domains. We offer a unique opportunity to join an exciting team looking to expand humanity's capabilities in space.

About the role

As a Production Manager at AstroForge, you will own the fabrication, assembly, integration, and test of flight hardware as we stand up production. This role is about building a line, not running an established one. You will define work instructions, travelers, and production processes, partner with engineering, and manage technicians. You will be a hands-on floor leader, equally comfortable running a build today and designing the systems to run ten builds a month tomorrow.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end production of assigned hardware, from kitting and build through integration and test.
• Stand up foundational production processes, including work instructions, travelers, configuration control, and shop floor workflows.
• Lead and grow a team of technicians, setting build priorities and holding the floor accountable to schedule and quality.
• Provide real-time manufacturability feedback and resolve build issues, nonconformances, and design changes.
• Build and maintain production schedules that account for long-lead parts, tooling availability, and engineering change traffic.
• Establish baseline production metrics (throughput, cycle time, escapes, cost) and use them to drive continuous improvement.
• Evaluate and help select production software systems that fit our current stage and scale with us.
• Coordinate with supply chain on vendor-built components and outside processing to keep builds unblocked.
• Champion a safety-first culture on the floor as headcount and equipment scale.
• Recruit, hire, and train technicians and, at senior levels, supervisors.
• Communicate build status, risks, and schedule impacts to engineering and leadership.

Requirements

• College degree in an engineering or business discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience in aerospace/hardware production.
• 5+ years (more at senior levels) in production, manufacturing, or build/integration roles for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or comparable high-reliability hardware.
• Demonstrated ability to build production processes from scratch, not just operate within an existing one.
• Experience working directly with engineering to resolve build and manufacturability issues in real time.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity with limited existing tooling or process.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to report schedule, risk, and quality status to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to work onsite in Seal Beach, CA.

Preferred Skills

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• Experience standing up a production line or work cell at a new space or early-stage aerospace company.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Experience implementing or configuring MES/ERP/PLM systems for a growing manufacturing organization.
• Direct experience managing technicians across cleanroom, structures, propulsion, or avionics build environments.
• Experience scaling a team and process from single-unit builds toward low-rate, repeatable production.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 or comparable quality/manufacturing standards.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical, dental, and life insurance coverage
• Vision and FSA benefits available
• 3 weeks of PTO + 1 week of sick time
• 10 paid holidays
• Retirement savings plan - 401(k), with company match
• Equity on the ground floor of a startup

Pay

Level 2: $115,500 - $140,000
Level 3: $135,500 - $170,000

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Government.