Supervisor, Manufacturing Operations

Virgin Galactic; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 81,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Galactic seeks a Manufacturing Operations Supervisor to lead rocket motor and spaceship fabrication teams. You will refine production flow, tooling, and processes to create an efficient, lean factory while aligning with the build schedule and quality standards.

Experience in aerospace, lean manufacturing, and leading teams is required. Onsite schedule is five days; strong collaboration across engineering and manufacturing is essential to meet milestones and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Six years in aerospace or high-reliability field with three years in a lead role

Responsibilities

• Assign daily tasks to shop leads and staff to meet milestones
• Lead and manage a team of technicians including performance management
• Oversee assembly of spaceship/rocket motor components from start to finish
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Design and Quality Engineers to meet standards
• Drive safety and regulatory compliance, FOD awareness, and housekeeping
• Utilize manufacturing software to manage material and review processes

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Team leadership

Reading blueprints/drawings

MS Excel

Manufacturing dashboards

Problem solving

Education

Trade school or Associate’s degree

Tools

Manufacturing software

Job description

Virgin Galactic is seeking highly motivated Manufacturing Operations Supervisor to lead and 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. In this role, your technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality will impact safe spaceflights. You will implement strategies to enhance production efficiency, quality, and improve financial performance. Maintain a mindset of continuous improvement to keep our production-related processes ever evolving. Establish and share the vision towards a common goal while holding self and others accountable.

Primary focus is to Lead Rocket Motor/Spaceship fabrication and assembly. As a Supervisor, your role is to help refine and improve the production flow, equipment, and tools to create an efficient, organized, and lean factory. Organize daily tasks to meet milestones, in alignment with manufacturing schedule, and drive the overall performance of the manufacturing plan. To be successful, this supervisory role will require collaboration across teams and all functions of planning, scheduling, demands, and assembly to properly support the build schedule by means of identifying tooling, materials, resources, planning, and product definition to ensure a seamless transition from paper to reality.

Current Work Schedule

Onsite Monday through Friday Day (6:00am – 4:30pm)

Potential Future Work Schedules

Onsite Monday through Friday Night (4:00pm - 2:30am)

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

Responsibilities

• Assign daily tasks to shop leads and staff to ensure daily milestones are met/exceeded to ensure productivity
• Lead and manage a team of technicians including all performance management related tasks and team development
• Oversight of Assembling Spaceship/ Rocket Motor components from start to completion in a fast-paced Mfg. Environment
• Influences technical projects, technicians, or interdepartmental functions to achieve goals or solve problems
• Continuously improve procedures, processes, and efficiencies
• Drive safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; ensure adherence to regulatory protocols and rules
• Coach, train, and transfer expertise to your team to drive projects to completions
• Work closely with Build Management to forecast completion dates and day to day updates
• Collaborate effectively with Manufacturing, Design and Quality Engineers to ensure our vehicles meet our standards for design and quality
• Prioritize work based on production schedule, organizational goals, and metrics
• Utilize your overall general knowledge of Composite and similar Manufacturing skills to produce a high performing Hybrid Rocket
• Work with manufacturing software system to manage material and product review process

Required Skills and Experience

• Relevant education, such as trade school or Associate’s degree; and /or equivalent technical work experience
• Minimum of six years’ experience in an aerospace or equivalent high-reliability field with three years of leading others and/ or demonstrated ability to lead and train on technical concepts
• Experience with aircraft manufacturing with composite and/or metallic airframes
• Experience in assembly, integration, and handling of large products, assembling large tight tolerance structures
• Extensive experience and/or training in lean manufacturing principles and leading or participating in process improvement workshops
• 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 or related programs and dashboards

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Airframe & Power plant (A&P) training preferred
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing (Kaizen/Six Sigma) philosophies and tools a plus
• Working knowledge of configuration management practices and quality management processes
• Proficient in interpreting engineering models, drawings, specifications, written/digital work
• Strong analytical skills, combined with a strong commercial acumen to measure the potential impact of each decision
• Ability to ensure effective collaboration across teams
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally
• Set clear objectives and milestones
• Communicate clearly and with transparency
• Lead by example in strong safety forward thinking, practice good housekeeping, tool control, recognizing the importance of properly handling hazardous materials and, chemicals
• Familiar with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

#LI-MS1

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $80,855.00–$123,342.00. 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/fmln.pdf)

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal