Aerospace Manufacturing Operations Lead

Virgin Galactic; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 81,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Supervisor to lead rocket motor and spaceship fabrication, drive lean production, and ensure safe, high-quality assembly. You will coordinate with planning, scheduling, and engineering teams to optimize throughput and implement improvement projects.

The role requires six+ years in aerospace with leadership experience, strong lean manufacturing background, and proficiency in reading drawings and dashboards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of six years’ experience in an aerospace or equivalent high-reliability field with three years of leading others
• Experience with aircraft manufacturing with composite and/or metallic airframes
• Experience in assembly, integration, and handling of large products, assembling large tight tolerance structures
• Extensive experience and/or training in lean manufacturing principles and leading or participating in process improvement workshops
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, blueprints, and/or models on paper or digital
• Demonstrated computer and analytical skills including proficiency in MS Excel, manufacturing software or related programs and dashboards

Responsibilities

• Assign daily tasks to shop leads and staff to ensure daily milestones are met/exceeded to ensure productivity
• Lead and manage a team of technicians including all performance management related tasks and team development
• Oversight of Assembling Spaceship/ Rocket Motor components from start to completion in a fast-paced Mfg. Environment
• Influences technical projects, technicians, or interdepartmental functions to achieve goals or solve problems
• Continuously improve procedures, processes, and efficiencies
• Drive safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; ensure adherence to regulatory protocols and rules
• Coach, train, and transfer expertise to your team to drive projects to completions
• Work closely with Build Management to forecast completion dates and day to day updates
• Collaborate effectively with Manufacturing, Design and Quality Engineers to ensure our vehicles meet our standards for design and quality
• Prioritize work based on production schedule, organizational goals, and metrics
• Utilize your overall general knowledge of Composite and similar Manufacturing skills to produce a high performing Hybrid Rocket
• Work with manufacturing software system to manage material and product review process

Skills

Team leadership

Lean manufacturing

Reading blueprints

Microsoft Excel

Manufacturing dashboards

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality focus

Safety awareness

Education

Trade school or Associate’s degree

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Supervisor to lead rocket motor and spaceship fabrication, drive lean production, and ensure safe, high-quality assembly. You will coordinate with planning, scheduling, and engineering teams to optimize throughput and implement improvement projects.

The role requires six+ years in aerospace with leadership experience, strong lean manufacturing background, and proficiency in reading drawings and dashboards.