Sr. Director Manufacturing - Space

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of space product manufacturing across a portfolio of ~10 products, including production readiness, rate ramp, quality, and delivery performance
• Tactical execution across manufacturing operations, including:
  • Material planning and production scheduling
  • Supply chain coordination and input on supplier performance
  • Quality execution, compliance, and defect reduction
• Daily/weekly operating cadence to ensure commitments are met
• Drive the transition from engineering development to full-rate production, ensuring design-for-manufacturability, producibility, and cost optimization
• Partner closely with engineering to mature designs and implement robust build-to-print, configuration control, and production release processes
• Ensure full compliance with space manufacturing standards, including IPC J-STD requirements and applicable space addenda, as well as mission assurance and reliability expectations
• Establish and scale manufacturing processes that meet high-reliability, low-defect, and traceability requirements for space systems
• Lead cross-functional coordination across engineering, quality, supply chain, programs, and finance to deliver on cost, schedule, and performance commitments
• Partner with Global Operations to:
• Ensure alignment to enterprise initiatives, policies, and governance
• Drive adoption of standard tools and systems, including Oracle Fusion
• Implement consistent processes, metrics, and reporting across sites
• Support enterprise-wide continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives
• Champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, improving throughput, reducing cycle time, and optimizing cost structure
• Build and develop a high-performing organization across manufacturing, material planning, supply chain, and quality functions
• Align manufacturing strategy with broader company direction to accelerate commercialization and productization, consistent with evolving government and market priorities

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related technical field
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing or operations experience required with minimum 7-10 years of direct managerial experience
• Strong track record in leading multi-site or complex manufacturing operations in the aerospace, defense, or high-technology industries
• Proven experience leading space hardware manufacturing organizations, including responsibility for both strategic leadership and tactical execution
• Demonstrated success transitioning products from engineering development into production at scale
• Deep expertise in space manufacturing standards and requirements, including IPC J-STD and applicable space addenda, as well as quality and mission assurance frameworks
• Strong understanding of material planning, supply chain operations, and quality systems in high-reliability environments
• Experience operating within complex, regulated environments (defense, aerospace, or space)
• Track record of leading cross-functional teams and influencing across engineering, operations, and program organizations
• Experience implementing or operating within enterprise ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Oracle Fusion or equivalent)
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational discipline while leading transformation and standardization efforts
• Collaborative leadership style with ability to work effectively across segment and enterprise (Global Operations) structures