Manufacturing Readiness Program Lead

Aether; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

Aether is hiring a program manager to move new materials from lab to commercial production. You will own the manufacturing readiness stage-gate process, coordinating R&D, engineering, quality, CMOs, and commercial teams to ensure reliable scale-up and market launch.

You will lead cross-functional teams and shape a scalable launch framework for future products, helping build Aether's manufacturing organization from the ground up.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of program management experience in hardware, chemicals, materials, batteries, or similar product industries.
• Track record of taking products from development through commercial launch.
• Experience building or shaping a new product introduction or stage-gate process, not just working within one.
• Ability to lead people across technical and business teams without direct reports.
• Strong systems thinking and organizational skills.
• Experience in a fast-paced or early-stage environment.

Responsibilities

• Run stage-gate process from lab scale through commercial launch, including gate reviews and readiness decisions.
• Build and maintain integrated launch plans covering development, scale-up, tech transfer, qualification, and commercial readiness.
• Coordinate across R&D, process engineering, quality, contract manufacturing operations, supply chain, and commercial, ensuring clear handoffs.
• Partner with quality and process engineering to bake quality into technology transfer from the start.
• Identify risks early, push them to resolution, and keep leadership informed of status and tradeoffs.
• Refine the stage-gate process as the product portfolio grows.

Skills

Program management

Hardware programs

Cross-functional leadership

Systems thinking

Fast-paced environment

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Aether is hiring a program manager to move new materials from lab to commercial production. You will own the manufacturing readiness stage-gate process, coordinating R&D, engineering, quality, CMOs, and commercial teams to ensure reliable scale-up and market launch.

You will lead cross-functional teams and shape a scalable launch framework for future products, helping build Aether's manufacturing organization from the ground up.