Director of Manufacturing Operations

Factor Search; Washington; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Senior leadership role

Competitive package

Career development

Job summary

Factor Search client is seeking a senior leader to own the spacecraft production operation, from sub-assembly through integration, environmental testing and launch readiness. You will lead the Production, AIT and Manufacturing Engineering teams and collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality and Programmes to deliver satellites on cost, schedule and quality.

This is a senior, hands-on role to build production capability at scale, with competitive package and a clear path for career

Qualifications

• 12+ years in spacecraft, satellite or high-reliability aerospace production.
• Minimum 5 years leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience scaling production from prototype or pilot builds to volume manufacturing.
• Hands-on knowledge of spacecraft AIT, including environmental tests.
• Experience in ISO 5 / cleanroom environments and harness manufacture.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 / ECSS or equivalent quality standards.
• Strong grounding in lean manufacturing (5S, kaizen, value stream mapping).

Responsibilities

• Set and deliver the manufacturing strategy from prototype to constellation-scale production.
• Lead and grow a team of production managers, manufacturing engineers and AIT technicians.
• Own production scheduling, capacity planning, budget and capital equipment investment.
• Oversee AIT from subsystem level to fully integrated spacecraft testing.
• Drive design-for-manufacture and design-for-test with engineering teams.
• Embed lean manufacturing and continuous improvement across cleanroom and shop floor operations.
• Manage key subcontractors and suppliers to protect delivery timelines.
• Report production status, risks and recovery plans to the leadership team and customers.

Skills

Spacecraft production

Cross-functional leadership

AIT knowledge

Lean manufacturing

Cleanroom environments

Quality culture

Job description

Our client is a fast-growing satellite manufacturer designing, building and delivering spacecraft and subsystems for Earth observation, defence and commercial constellation customers. With demand rising across their programmes, they are investing heavily in production capacity.

About the role

You will own the full spacecraft production operation, from sub-assembly through integration, environmental test and launch readiness. You will lead the Production, AIT and Manufacturing Engineering teams and work closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality and Programmes to deliver satellites on cost, schedule and quality.

Your responsibilities

• Set and deliver the manufacturing strategy as the business moves from low-rate builds to constellation-scale production
• Lead and grow a team of production managers, manufacturing engineers and AIT technicians
• Own production scheduling, capacity planning, budget and capital equipment investment
• Oversee AIT from subsystem level through fully integrated spacecraft testing
• Drive design-for-manufacture and design-for-test with engineering teams
• Embed lean manufacturing and continuous improvement across cleanroom and shop floor operations
• Manage key subcontractors and suppliers to protect delivery timelines
• Report production status, risks and recovery plans to the leadership team and customers

Your profile

• 12+ years in spacecraft, satellite or high-reliability aerospace production, with at least 5 years leading multi-disciplinary teams
• Proven track record scaling production from prototype or pilot builds to volume manufacturing
• Hands-on knowledge of spacecraft AIT, including environmental test (vibration, TVAC, EMC)
• Experience in ISO 5 / cleanroom environments, ESD-sensitive assembly and harness manufacture
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ECSS or equivalent quality standards
• Strong grounding in lean manufacturing (5S, kaizen, value stream mapping)
• Experience setting up or expanding production facilities is a strong advantage
• Eligibility to obtain national security clearance may be required

What's on offer

• A senior leadership role building a production capability at scale
• Competitive package with performance-linked upside
• The chance to see spacecraft move off a production line you shaped
• Strong career development in a growing business