Production Supervisor

Stratolaunch; Mojave (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Maternity and Parental Leave

401(k) company match up to $11,500

Job summary

Stratolaunch seeks a Production Supervisor to coordinate and oversee mechanical assembly, structural integration, and general production operations across prototype and structured environments. You will supervise day-to-day activities, uphold safety and quality standards, and support production schedules.

You will lead teams, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate with multiple departments to ensure on-time, cost-effective program delivery in a fast-paced aerospace setting.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments, with at least 1 year in a lead or supervisory role.
• Strong technical knowledge of mechanical assembly, structural integration, and general production processes.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate, mentor, and support production teams.
• Experience with MES systems, production documentation, and reporting tools.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate mechanical assembly, integration, and production operations for prototype and structured production builds.
• Supervise, train, and support production team members, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Production Control, Program teams, and other departments to execute detailed production schedules aligned with program objectives.
• Support process improvements by leveraging digital tools, MES, and data analytics to enhance safety, repeatability, and throughput.
• Assist with managing labor and material costs by monitoring timekeeping, optimizing resource allocation, and supporting material usage controls.

Skills

Aerospace manufacturing

Supervisory leadership

MES systems

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation and reporting

Education

Associate/Bachelor in Manufacturing or related

Tools

MES systems

Job description

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air‑launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

We are seeking a Production Supervisor to coordinate and oversee mechanical assembly, structural integration, and general production operations across both prototype and structured production environments. Reporting to the Production Manager, you will supervise day‑to‑day activities for manufacturing and fabrication teams, ensure adherence to safety and quality standards, and support the execution of production plans. You will collaborate closely with Production Control and Programs to help maintain production schedules and work with other supervisors to ensure seamless program delivery and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate brings hands‑on experience in aerospace manufacturing or advanced production environments, a record of team coordination, and the ability to foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement. Success in this role depends on your ability to communicate effectively, solve problems proactively, and deliver results in a fast‑paced environment.

Why Join Us

In this role, you will directly impact the quality and reliability of the structures and systems that form the backbone of our vehicles. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills, influence processes from prototype through production, and contribute to programs that push the boundaries of innovation. We operate at the intersection of structured aerospace discipline and fast‑paced development, giving you the chance to grow your impact in a dynamic environment where your contributions matter every day.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate mechanical assembly, integration, and general production operations for both prototype and structured production builds.
• Supervise, train, and support production team members, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Production Control, Program teams, and other departments to help execute detailed production schedules, ensuring alignment with overall program objectives.
• Support process improvements by leveraging digital tools, MES, and data analytics to enhance safety, repeatability, and throughput in both prototype and structured production environments.
• Assist with managing labor and material costs by monitoring timekeeping, optimizing resource allocation, and supporting material usage controls to meet or exceed cost targets.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace standards and company quality requirements across all assigned production activities.
• Support capacity planning and workforce development to meet current and future program needs.
• Monitor and report production metrics (schedule, cost, quality, safety) to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify and communicate risks to production objectives, proactively addressing issues that could impact delivery, cost, or quality.
• Promote and enforce safety leadership across the shop floor, ensuring compliance with PPE usage, equipment standards, and safe operating practices.
• Ensure all production areas and processes are maintained and FOD free.
• Maintain build documentation, records, and logs to ensure full traceability and compliance with quality standards.
• Support on‑vehicle integration and final assembly tasks, ensuring systems and structures are properly installed, secured, and tested on aircraft platforms.
• Champion a collaborative, team‑oriented environment that supports program goals and employee growth.
• Represent production in program reviews and management meetings as required by management.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments, with at least 1 year in a lead or supervisory role preferred.
• Strong technical knowledge of mechanical assembly, structural integration, and general production processes.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate, mentor, and support production teams.
• Proven record of supporting process improvements and delivering results in a fast‑paced, high‑reliability environment.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Experience with MES systems, production documentation, and reporting tools.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.

Preferred

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience with prototype‑to‑production transitions in aerospace or advanced manufacturing.
• Background in R&D, rapid prototyping, or startup environments.
• Lean/continuous improvement certifications (Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.).
• Experience implementing production tooling, workstations, and infrastructure for efficient, repeatable builds.

This role operates within a hands‑on fabrication and assembly shop supporting both prototype development and structured production builds. Team members work at assembly benches and integration stations with standard aerospace tooling, overhead lighting, and controlled environments. Job function could require performance in other areas (e.g. aircraft hangar).

The position requires:

• Regular standing, manual dexterity, and occasional lifting of moderate components.
• Consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including safety glasses, gloves, and ESD controls.
• On‑aircraft work during installation and integration phases, requiring mobility in and around vehicle structures.
• Collaboration in a team‑focused environment where adherence to safety protocols, production schedules, and organized workflows is essential.
• 9/80 Schedule
• $110,000-$135,000
• Eligible for up to 10% annual bonus

Benefits and our location(s)

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight‑seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law: