Manufacturing Technician

Virgin Galactic; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 45,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Manufacturing Technician to support Vehicle and Rocket Motor Manufacturing teams. You will fabricate, bond, and assemble composite and metal airframes, follow drawings and work instructions, operate curing ovens, and ensure quality with ERP-based tracking.

This hands-on role requires safety focus and detail-orientation. The position offers onsite 4/10 schedule with potential shifts; you will work with engineers and supervisors to meet project goals and maintain high

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum two years as a technician in aerospace or high-reliability field.
• Experience with hands-on aircraft manufacturing and composite/metal airframes.
• Ability to read drawings, blueprints, and models, paper or digital.
• Experience recording job status and material tracking in ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate spaceship rocket motor and launch vehicle parts from composites by hand.
• Assemble tools for injection molding parts used in manufacturing.
• Measure and place stations on tooling mold surfaces per drawings.
• Vacuum bag parts and perform surface finishing and trimming.
• Read engineering orders, blueprints, SRMs; operate ovens/autoclaves.
• Use gantry cranes and forklift to locate and move components.
• Adhere to assembly instructions; maintain safety and cleanliness.

Skills

Aerospace manufacturing

Composite fabrication

Reading drawings/blueprints

ERP systems usage

Tool handling (hand tools)

Quality inspection

Safety and FOD awareness

Lifting up to 50 lbs

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Virgin Galactic is seeking a first-rate, highly motivated Manufacturing Technician to support our Vehicle and Rocket Motor Manufacturing teams. 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 role is for a hands-on person with great attention to detail, excellent people skills, and a creative, agile mindset ready to overcome challenges and complete projects in a dynamic, pioneering environment.

Working from engineering drawings and detailed work instructions, you will apply our unique bonding, assembly, fabrication, and test processes across both spaceship airframe structures and hybrid rocket motor components. Responsibilities span composites bonding and fabrication, assembly fixturing setup, drilling, fay sealing, wet fastener installation, trimming/fitting, installation and check-out of aircraft systems, and testing — producing top-quality components that meet the highest standards. If you thrive on variety, love solving hands-on problems, and want to be part of the team building the future of spaceflight, you'll feel right at home here.” Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

Work Schedule:

4/10 Onsite Monday through Thursday Day Shift (6:00am – 4:30pm)

Potential Future Work Schedules

• 4/10 Onsite Monday through Thursday Night Shift (4:00pm – 2:30am)
• 4/10 Onsite Thursday through Sunday Day Shift (6:00am – 4:30pm)

Responsibilities

• Cutting composite fabrics and rubbers, laying up composite fabrics and rubbers by hand in molds to fabricate spaceship rocket motor and launch vehicle parts.
• Assembly of tools to be used for injection molding parts to be consumed in manufacturing.
• Use of weighing scales to properly ratio resins to hader and to track material weights consumed by the part.
• Measuring and placing stations on tooling mold surfaces to locate composite fabric plies per engineering drawings.
• Vacuum bagging of parts per specifications.
• Reads Engineering Orders, Manufacturing work instructions, blueprints and Service Repair Manuals (SRMs).
• Operates curing ovens/autoclave and monitors cycle functions.
• Hand sanding composite surfaces.
• Dry fitting components.
• Hand finishing parts to fit including hand trimming.
• Wet layup (using adhesives and fabrics).
• Fixing/locating structure.
• Use of equipment such as gantry cranes to locate components.
• Forklift operations, consisting of gathering and placing parts.
• Adhere to assembly instructions to ensure accurate completion of complex project assemblies.
• Surface preparations utilizing curing temperatures and cleanliness.
• Co-curing and secondary bonding.
• Surface preparations utilizing curing temperatures and cleanliness.
• Adhere to set directions and guidelines from Supervisor to support collaboration across teams to complete projects
• Continuously practice safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; adhere to regulatory protocols and rules.
• Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks.

Filament Winding:

• Co-curing and secondary bonding.
• Surface preparations utilizing curing temperatures and cleanliness.

Required Skills and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of two years of experience as a technician in an aerospace or equivalent high-reliability field
• Experience with hands‑on aircraft manufacturing with composite and/or metallic airframes
• Experience with aircraft fabrication/ or Similar Production Fabrication and assembly required or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to use computer applications to follow manufacturing work instructions and work with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to record job status, time spent, and material tracking.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, blueprints, and/or models on paper or digital

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Hands‑on experience in a precision yet manual manufacturing setting strongly preferred
• Experience with hand tools (torque wrenches, specialty tools etc.) a plus.
• Experience with plumbing (fluid lines and fittings) a plus.
• Experience with manual lathe and mill operation a plus.
• Experienced with Quality Inspection points and process documentation.
• Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior
• Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing philosophies and tools a plus
• Experience with manufacturing‑based ERP systems a plus
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement practices
• Strong safety forward thinking, practice good housekeeping, tool control, recognizing the importance of properly handling hazardous materials, and chemicals.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Familiar with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

#LI-MS1

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $44,554.00–$60,996.00. 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/f.fmlen.pdf)

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal