Airframe Manufacturing Lead

Astro Mechanica • San Francisco, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

ABOUT US:
Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.
WHO WE ARE:
We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.
WHO YOU ARE:
A hands-on airframe manufacturing leader with deep expertise in composite structures and bonded assemblies
Comfortable building a manufacturing function from the ground up—facilities, processes, tooling, and teams
A tactical leader who thrives on the shop floor, leading by example and mentoring technicians through complex builds
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
You will own Astro Mechanica’s supersonic plane build. Working with our Director of Manufacturing, you’ll lead a team turning designs into real hardware, making sure parts get built, assemblies come together, and problems get solved efficiently as the airplane takes shape.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in high-mix, low-volume composite manufacturing, prototyping, or airframe fabrication, preferably in aerospace or defense
• Strong hands-on knowledge of composite materials and processes (prepreg layup, wet layup, bonding, curing, trimming, and repair)
• Strong hands-on knowledge of metallic materials and processing
• Practical experience working with metallic airframe components and composite-to-metal interfaces
• Experience building or scaling manufacturing operations, labs, or shops in a development or flight hardware environment
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technicians while staying deeply engaged in the technical details
• Ability to work directly from engineering drawings, ply books, CAD models, and evolving build definitions
• Familiarity with aerospace quality standards, inspection practices, and documentation for flight and test hardware
• Practical, execution-focused leadership style with comfort navigating ambiguity and rapid change
• Ambition to build real flight hardware in a fast-moving, high-accountability environment

Responsibilities

• Work with senior engineering leadership to stand up Astro Mechanica’s airframe manufacturing function from scratch, including facilities, workflows, tooling concepts, and technician teams
• Own day-to-day operations of in-house airframe manufacturing, with a focus on composite structures and assemblies
• Work directly with the airframe engineering and design teams to translate designs, analyses, and requirements into executable manufacturing plans
• Partner closely with senior engineering leadership to align manufacturing strategy with program goals, schedules, and technical risk reduction
• Lead, schedule, and develop composite technicians and fabricators while maintaining a strong hands-on presence on the shop floor
• Supervise and coordinate layup, bonding, curing, trimming, assembly, and rework activities to meet aggressive development milestones
• Establish and continuously improve work instructions, build sequences, tooling approaches, and process documentation
• Ensure safe and effective operation of composite manufacturing equipment including autoclaves, ovens, freezers, layup tools, trimming equipment, and inspection tools
• Drive a culture of quality, accountability, and pride in workmanship across the airframe manufacturing team

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
• Flexible work environment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed