Machining & Fabrication Operations Leader (Scale-Up)

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space Corporation in Los Angeles is seeking a hands-on Manager, Machining and Fabrication to lead our machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection (CMM), and spacecraft paint teams. You will own safety, facilities coordination, and day-to-day operations to deliver flight parts and prototype hardware on tight timelines.

As we scale from development spacecraft to high-rate production, you will build the shop, team, and systems needed to meet aggressive schedules, make

Qualifications

• 4+ years of direct people leadership in a fast-paced machining or fabrication environment.
• 8+ years hands-on experience in machining, fabrication, or precision manufacturing in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple work centers in a high-mix, low-volume development or quick-turn environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a talented team of specialized work centers including machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection (CMM), and spacecraft paint.
• Ensure safety, quality, and turn time are communicated and upheld by all team members.
• Manage schedule and delivery of machined parts, welded assemblies, prototype hardware, tooling, fixtures, and GSE for development, production, and test.
• Set daily priorities for the team and adjust when engineering needs change.
• Identify and remove constraints blocking hardware delivery (equipment, resources, material, or process).
• Drive capability expansion, including equipment selection, capital investment, new processes, and make-vs-buy decisions.
• Support the buildout of new manufacturing areas, including layout, infrastructure, and equipment installation with Engineering, Production, and Facilities.
• Establish metrics for throughput, schedule adherence, utilization, equipment readiness, and quality for continuous improvement.
• Serve as site lead coordinating with Facilities, Design Engineering, and Test on shared resources and readiness.

Skills

People leadership

Machining expertise

Multi-work centers

Tools

CMM

MES/ERP

Job description

K2 Space Corporation in Los Angeles is seeking a hands-on Manager, Machining and Fabrication to lead our machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection (CMM), and spacecraft paint teams. You will own safety, facilities coordination, and day-to-day operations to deliver flight parts and prototype hardware on tight timelines.

As we scale from development spacecraft to high-rate production, you will build the shop, team, and systems needed to meet aggressive schedules, make