Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

Quantum Space; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Quantum Space in Rockville, MD, seeks an experienced Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead the Ranger production ramp from first article to rate production. You will shape manufacturing capabilities, drive design for manufacturability, and partner with design, supply chain, and production to scale rocket-grade hardware safely and on schedule.

Travel to Tulsa and other sites is expected. The role demands hands-on leadership, a strong background in manufacturing engineering, and the ability

Qualifications

• Advanced degree and 2+ years in engineering, production, or operations.
• 4+ years leading engineers or a similar management role.
• Experience transitioning products from development to production.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineers, test engineers, and technicians through Ranger production ramp.
• Ensure safety, quality, and mission assurance in all production activities.
• Develop and implement metrics to optimize productivity across all areas.
• Advise design teams on manufacturability and production feasibility early.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, spares, and readiness to ensure uptime.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing Engineering

Production Planning

Design for Manufacturability

Lean Manufacturing

Safety & Quality

Cross-functional Collaboration

Problem Solving

Education

Advanced degree

Engineering/Operations background

Tools

Clean room operations

AS9100 familiarity

Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead the manufacturing engineering effort for our Ranger spacecraft program. In this role, you will lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of production lines that transition Ranger from a development program into a spacecraft built at rate.

You will be responsible for ensuring that component fabrication, subassembly build, and final assembly, integration, and test (AIT) are performed with the highest levels of safety, quality, and rate. You will oversee equipment and tooling design, facilities and clean room planning, staffing, leadership development, and new product introduction while serving as a key partner between engineering, supply chain, and production.

This position is ideal for a driven, hands-on manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex production and operational challenges, and is passionate about building high-performance spacecraft. You will work closely with design teams in Rockville to provide early, data-backed input on manufacturing capabilities and design for manufacturability while supporting the transition to rate production in Tulsa.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

• Build, lead, and grow a team of manufacturing engineers, test engineers, and technicians as Ranger moves from first article in Rockville to rate production in Tulsa
• Lead the team through all phases of the Ranger product life cycle while ensuring that all standards, requirements, and mission assurance expectations are upheld
• Develop and implement business, manufacturing, and production metrics to measure and then optimize productivity in all areas
• Act as the technical decision maker and advisor to the team on manufacturing techniques, tooling, and test methods that will enable building spacecraft structures, propulsion assemblies, avionics, and harnesses at rate
• Ensure a strong focus is placed on safety, including pressure systems, propellant handling, and lifting operations, and maintain an excellent safety record
• Champion continuous improvement projects using appropriate metrics and data sources, including improvement or mitigation plans needed to achieve the next level of performance
• Work with cross-functional teams to increase production throughput and meet delivery targets while maintaining the highest possible standards of quality
• Recruit, develop, train, and retain world-class leaders and individual contributors who will deliver for the business and amplify every team they interact with
• Act as a forcing function for excellence, and aggressively focus on cost reduction in every element of design, production, and supply chain processes
• Monitor and communicate area status, readiness, and risks to leadership
• Partner with design engineering to ensure new product development meets the goals of product manufacturability, assembly, and testability
• Implement equipment maintenance schedules and spares availability to ensure uptime and output performance

What It Takes

• Advanced degree and 2+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or bachelor's degree and 4+ years of experience working in one or more of the following; or 8+ years of experience working in one or more of the following:
  • Engineering
  • Production
  • Manufacturing
  • Operations
• 2+ years of direct leadership/management experience leading engineers

Nice-to-Have Experience

• 4+ years of experience in a leadership role in a manufacturing environment and transitioning products from development into production
• Experience standing up a new production line or facility, including layout, equipment selection, and clean room or ESD-controlled areas
• High degree of comfort on the factory floor, working to identify and execute efficiency improvements in all aspects of production and manufacturing
• Experience with process development and qualification, new product introduction, capacity and resource planning, and Lean manufacturing
• Experience with design for manufacturability, assembly, reliability, testability, and source-ability
• Familiarity with aerospace quality systems such as AS9100 and with mission assurance practices for flight hardware
• Demonstrated capability to solve complex problems with little to no supervision, on schedule, as an individual or as a member of an integrated team using appropriate problem-solving tools
• Ability to influence other organizations through strong engineering and business rationale and data
• Ability to effectively organize, assign, and track work and deliverables
• Ability to develop manufacturing strategies based on specialized business needs
• Experience driving a production or company-wide initiative with large impact on reliability, people, or efficiency
• Demonstrated exceptional achievements at previous companies to rapidly improve production through process improvements while focusing on product reliability and mission success
• Ability to work well in an integrated team, including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach growing leaders
• Experience in any of the following process areas:
• Spacecraft or satellite assembly, integration, and test (AIT)
• Propulsion system and pressure vessel build, including tank fabrication, welding, and proof and leak test
• Precision machining of structural and propulsion components
• Composite and metallic spacecraft structures
• Electrical harness fabrication and avionics or printed circuit board assembly
• Environmental test (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC)

What You’ll Get

• Ownership – Lead manufacturing engineering and production development for the Ranger spacecraft program, from first article through rate production
• Innovation – Develop and implement advanced manufacturing processes, tooling, and production capabilities supporting next‑generation spacecraft technologies
• Impact – Play a critical role in scaling spacecraft production while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, reliability, and mission success
• Growth – Build and develop a high-performing manufacturing engineering team while helping shape the future of spacecraft production in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing

Location: Rockville, MD (with travel to Tulsa, OK, Hawthorne, CA, suppliers, and customer sites as needed)

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work flexible and/or extended hours to meet the needs of the role, including launch campaign and delivery milestones
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs. unassisted and work in clean room garments for extended periods
• Able to travel for short business trips to Tulsa, OK, Hawthorne, CA, suppliers, and customer sites as needed (up to 20%)

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.