Head of Manufacturing

Helicon; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Helicon in Torrance, CA seeks a hands-on production leader to own the production floor end to end, drive delivery timelines, and stand up, ramp and run manufacturing lines from build readiness through steady state production. This role requires high agency and the ability to make consequential decisions that shape delivery outcomes every day.

You will help build the operating system for production, managing capacity and bottlenecks, coordinating with software engineers to encode real

Qualifications

• Experience with high volume composites processes.
• Strong understanding of first principles physics and manufacturing fundamentals.
• Proven track record of exceptional engineering-driven output.

Responsibilities

• Own the production floor end to end against delivery timelines.
• Stand up, ramp and run manufacturing lines from build readiness through steady-state production.
• Build the operating system for production: capacity planning, bottleneck management, line balancing, escalation paths and daily execution rhythms.
• Own equipment installation, procurement, commissioning and acceptance for new production cells and line expansions.
• Lead process development and continuous improvement to increase throughput, yield and on-time delivery.
• Collaborate with software engineers to encode manufacturing constraints into Argos (our OS for supply chain, quoting, pricing, simulation).

Job description

Helicon's mission is to accelerate the world's transition to advanced materials. We combine AI software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing to reinvent how the West maintains a competitive edge.

We hire people with high agency and high urgency. We look for slope over intercept. We care about what you’ve built. At Helicon, everyone owns problems end to end and makes consequential decisions that shape the outcome. Every day we build what most think is impossible.

We're backed by the investors who were first believers in Valar Atomics, Applied Intuition, Factory, Astranis, Flock Safety and Relativity Space.

What You'll Do

• Own the production floor end to end against delivery timelines




• Stand up, ramp and run manufacturing lines from build readiness through steady-state production




• Help build the operating system for production at Helicon: capacity planning, bottleneck management, line balancing, escalation paths and daily execution rhythms




• Own equipment installation, procurement, commissioning and acceptance for new production cells and line expansions




• Lead process development and continuous improvement to increase throughput, yield and on-time delivery




• Collaborate with software engineers to encode real manufacturing constraints into Argos (our OS for supply chain, quoting, pricing, simulation)

Who We're Looking For

Need:

• Experience with high volume composites processes




• Strong understanding of first principles physics and manufacturing fundamentals




• Proven track record of exceptional ability driven by engineering fundamentals




• Experience owning production lines or cells with direct responsibility for output, quality and schedule




• Experience ramping manufacturing processes from early builds into repeatable production




• Ability to lead in both high-mix and high-volume environments, knowing when each requires different systems and decisions

Nice to have:

• Experience going from manual to automated production lines




• Experience skills integrating sensors, controls and mechanical systems




• Experience building production teams, managing technicians and developing manufacturing leaders

We're not for you if:

• You think composites will never be used at industrial scale




• You're not looking for a role where you work with customers




• You prefer advisory ownership to direct accountability for floor execution and delivery timelines

Why Join

Bethlehem for steel. Helicon for composites.

For too long the most advanced materials in the world have been left to the exquisite, we're industrializing composites enabling the systems of the future to be built at mass scale.

We want the best people and have no bureaucracy. That includes covering meals and paying for products that make you more productive and our partners stronger.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.