Director, High Volume Production

Intuitive Machines; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Machines in Palo Alto, CA, is seeking a Director of High-Rate AIT Production to lead the design and implementation of a high-volume assembly, integration, and test line for next-generation spacecraft. You will drive production-rate processes, DFMs/DFTs, and scalable test programs to meet ambitious targets.

You will manage a team of AIT engineers and technicians, partner with design engineering, and engage with customers during proposals to demonstrate our capabilities.

Job description

Please review the job details below.Intuitive Machines - West is currently seeking a courageous, innovative, multi-skilled Director of High-Rate AIT Production to join our spacecraft production team in Palo Alto, CA. life with us Your Project: Intuitive Machines is a world leader in high-power spacecraft, having delivered some of the largest and highest-power spacecraft in the world. We are now looking to take this legacy of excellence to the next level, architecting a high-volume production line to build a large number of advanced spacecraft. In this role, you will architect and implement a high-volume assembly, integration, and test (AIT) production line for these next-generation vehicles. You will be responsible for transforming our AIT operations from low-rate to high-rate production, establishing scalable processes and organizational capabilities to support our ambitious production targets. The scope includes complete spacecraft AIT from component receipt through final acceptance testing, encompassing electrical systems integration, solar array integration with the spacecraft bus, battery integration, advanced thermal solutions, and comprehensive environmental testing at production scale. A critical aspect of this role is developing an efficient, right-sized test program—one that provides high confidence the vehicles will perform as designed while eliminating non-value-added test activities that add cost and schedule without commensurate risk reduction. You will apply rigorous engineering judgment to distinguish between essential verification activities and legacy testing practices that may not be necessary for production-rate vehicles. We are looking for leaders to bravely challenge conventional AIT approaches and establish production-rate processes for these advanced systems. You will play an essential role in applying design-for-manufacturing/design-for-test (DFM/DFT) principles to develop AIT specifications and manufacturing plans suitable for volume production. Additionally, you will represent AIT capabilities during customer proposal efforts, providing technical credibility and instilling confidence in our ability to execute high-volume production of complex spacecraft. Your Career: We\'re very serious about professional development and continuing education at Intuitive Machines - West. We offer our team members the opportunity to define their own career trajectory. You will work with your manager to set goals and design a development plan to advance your career. This unique opportunity is a high-visibility role critical to our company\'s leadership position in spacecraft manufacturing. What We Offer: Time for dedicated professional development, conference attendance, industry training, peer group collaboration, as well as paid certifications and education reimbursement. Who you will work with: You will report to the VP of Spacecraft Production and Operations and collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams. You will lead a team of AIT production engineers and technicians while partnering with design engineering to ensure producibility of our spacecraft systems. You will also engage directly with potential customers during proposal phases to communicate our production and test capabilities. Your Responsibilities