Role: Head of Manufacturing

💼 Industry: Aerospace / Advanced Propulsion / High-Speed Flight

🌎 Location: San Francisco, CA

💰 Compensation: $200k - $250k base + equity + benefits

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead the manufacturing function at a next-generation aerospace company developing advanced airframe and propulsion systems.

We are seeking a hands-on, technically fluent manufacturing leader who can operate at the intersection of engineering, prototyping, and operational execution. You will own the strategy and build-out of manufacturing capabilities required to rapidly develop, iterate, and mature complex flight hardware in a high-mix, low-volume environment.

This role requires both deep technical credibility and strong cross-functional leadership. You will help translate ambitious engineering concepts into manufacturable, testable, and scalable systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and scale the manufacturing organization, building people, processes, and capabilities to support rapid hardware development
Own manufacturing strategy across vehicle and propulsion programs, aligning design intent with cost, schedule, and manufacturability
Partner closely with airframe, propulsion, and systems engineering to drive build-aware design decisions
Establish and grow in-house capabilities including machining, fabrication, composites, tooling, and final integration
Maintain high-level technical fluency across precision machining, high-performance mechanical systems, composites, bonded structures, and large assemblies
Translate company-level priorities into executable manufacturing roadmaps
Drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, test, supply chain, and leadership
Build and lead a multidisciplinary team in a high-mix, low-volume aerospace development environment
Implement practical quality, traceability, and configuration control processes that support rapid iteration
Provide leadership visibility into manufacturing risks, cost drivers, and schedule impacts
Serve as the technical authority on build strategy as systems evolve from prototype to flight hardware

Qualifications:

10+ years of experience in aerospace or similarly complex hardware-driven environments
Strong knowledge across both:
Precision machining, fabrication, propulsion, or high-performance mechanical systems
Airframe structures, composites, or large integrated assemblies
Deep expertise in at least one domain with credible fluency in the other
Background as a design engineer, manufacturing engineer, or hands-on technical builder who has grown into broader leadership
Experience owning or heavily influencing cost and schedule across programs
Proven success building teams and capabilities in high-mix, low-volume environments
Strong ability to engage engineering teams and constructively challenge design decisions
Clear communication skills with the ability to align technical and executive stakeholders

Core Attributes:

Builder mindset with strong technical credibility
Pragmatic and decisive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
Comfortable balancing rapid iteration with long-term scalability
High ownership and accountability standards
Motivated by developing first-of-its-kind aerospace systems

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