Manager, Manufacturing Operations

Virgin Galactic; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 99,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Galactic is seeking an experienced Manager of Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing execution for Rocket Motor production. The role oversees a multi-tier team and partners with Program Managers, schedulers, and engineering to deliver programs safely, on time and on budget.

The position requires eight years in aerospace/high reliability settings with leadership experience, and a strong focus on RCCA, Lean, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field; trade school or Associate’s with equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum eight years’ aerospace or high-reliability field experience, with five years leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading production, assembly, and systems integration in aerospace/manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, coordinate, and execute all aspects of manufacturing operation including budget, headcount, and labor deployment.
• Create and own manufacturing build plans and ensure their development and maintenance.
• Lead project planning, recovery plans, and build execution for project and program deliverables.
• Translate program strategy into actionable priorities for the Manufacturing team and partner with Program Managers to deliver safely, on time, and on budget.
• Report program status, risk, and metrics to Program Leadership; support short- and long-term goals.
• Develop and implement recovery plans with engineering/manufacturing to address scheduling setbacks.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Lean manufacturing

Budget management

RCCA

Labor deployment

Cross-functional

MS Excel

Dashboards

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or related field

Tools

MS Excel

Scheduling tools

Dashboards

Job description

Virgin Galactic is seeking an experienced and inspired Manager of Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing execution for our Rocket Motor production. Guided by our values, “Safety above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions in the design and assembly efforts.

This position will lead a multi-tier team, including associate managers, supervisors, leads, and technicians across multiple facilities/departments. This role will own the manufacturing build plan and execution strategy for our spaceflight systems/vehicles and will serve as Manufacturing’s voice to Program Leadership. You will partner closely with multiple Program Managers, schedulers, engineering, and other cross-functional departments to deliver programs safely, on time, and on budget while ensuring compliance with company’s policies, procedures and overall objectives.

Work Schedule: Thursday - Monday Day Schedule

As an exempt position, the Manufacturing Manager may be required to work outside of the technician shift schedule

Responsibilities

• Planning, scheduling, coordinating, and executing all aspects of our manufacturing operation, along with budget, headcount, and labor deployment for the program
• Create manufacturing build plans, and own their development, implementation, and maintenance for the program
• Lead project planning, recovery plans, and build execution for project and program deliverables
• Provide a clear plan of action for the Program and translate program strategy into actionable priorities for the Manufacturing team
• Work with multiple Program Managers to deliver the project safely, on time, and on budget
• Report program status, risk assessment, and other metrics to Program Leadership to support short-term and long-term goals
• Communicate scheduling setbacks; develop and implement recovery plans with engineering/manufacturing to provide conflict resolution
• Oversee efforts between all manufacturing and engineering functions to properly support the build schedule by identifying tooling, materials, resources, planning, and product definition to ensure a seamless transition from paper to reality
• Partner with production control and planning to assure assembly flow is supported by all functions and to implement agile response strategies for rapid project adjustments
• Influence technical projects, technicians, and inter-departmental functions to achieve goals and solve problems
• Help manage budgets for programs and departments within the Manufacturing organization
• Own labor deployment, headcount management, and development of annual labor resource forecasts in alignment with the build schedule and in collaboration with program stakeholders to support the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
• Define technical training requirements and ensure team members are trained and qualified to perform their work
• Drive Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) efforts and Lean/continuous improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, schedule, and cost
• Drive safety behavior and enforce Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; ensure adherence to regulatory protocols and rules
• Coaches, trains, and transfers expertise to the team to drive projects to completion Ensure work deliverables are prioritized based on production schedule, organizational goals, and metrics, with clearly defined roles and accountability

Required Skills and Experience

• Relevant education, such as a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field; trade school or Associate’s degree with equivalent technical work experience will be considered
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in an aerospace or equivalent high-reliability field, with five years of leading supervisors, leads, and multidisciplinary technical teams
• Demonstrated leadership experience with production, assembly, and systems integration teams, ideally in an aerospace and/or manufacturing environment
• Experience in Manufacturing Leadership, Manufacturing Program/Project Management, or Production Planning
• Strong production line knowledge, including component assembly from subassembly through final top-level assembly
• Proven budget management experience for manufacturing programs or departments
• Experience with labor deployment and headcount management to meet production schedules
• Experience defining technical training requirements and building team qualification/certification plans
• Demonstrated experience driving Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) to closure
• Extensive experience and/or training in Lean manufacturing principles and leading process improvement workshops or Kaizen events
• Strong understanding of engineering and manufacturing functions and of the schedule, quality, and budget relationship
• Working knowledge of configuration management practices and quality management processes
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, blueprints, and/or models on paper or digital
• Demonstrated computer and analytical skills, including proficiency in MS Excel, manufacturing software, scheduling tools, or related programs and dashboards
• Experience in a start-up organization or a highly unique cultural environment
• Some experience within an external customer-facing role
• Familiar with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Physical and/or Additional Requirements

• As an exempt position, the Manufacturing Manager may be required to work outside of the technician shift schedule
• Must be able to stand for extended periods – 9 hours min
• Must be able to stoop, bend, crawl, and being able to maneuver in tight spaces
• Physically able to handle items weighing up to 40lbs (unassisted)

#LI-MS1

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $99,498.00–$151,719.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles.

Export Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here .

EEO Statement

Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Drug Free Workplace

Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.

Phoenix Employment Requirements

For individuals seeking employment at our Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility, employment is contingent upon you obtaining and maintaining a TSA authorized security badge. This includes initial and annual mandatory background checks that are governed by TSA, and conducted by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport badging office.

Accommodation Requests

If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position, please contact the Virgin Galactic Talent Team at: [e-mail]

Mandatory Notices

Employee Polygraph Protection Act Rights (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf)

E-Verify_Participation_Poster_Eng_Es

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlan.pdf)

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal