Director, Manufacturing Development

Apex Technology, Inc.•Los Angeles, CA

8d•$172,000 - $237,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Apex Space is seeking a Manufacturing Development Director to build and scale our Manufacturing Development organization. This role will drive the transition of spacecraft programs from early design through production readiness and high-rate manufacturing. Sitting at the center of Engineering and Production, this position owns the development, maturation, and industrialization of manufacturing processes, tooling, test infrastructure, and assembly flows required to successfully ramp spacecraft production at scale. The Director will lead cross-functional efforts focused on New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing process development, production readiness, and factory scaling initiatives across spacecraft assembly, integration, and test operations. The work will directly impact Apex Space's ability to rapidly bring new spacecraft platforms and hardware into production while maintaining uncompromising quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. Advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of experience leading manufacturing, NPI, manufacturing engineering, or production development organizations within aerospace, automotive, or other high-complexity hardware industries.
Proven track record successfully bringing new products from development into production and scaling manufacturing operations.
Strong understanding of spacecraft, aerospace, electromechanical, or high-reliability hardware assembly and integration processes.
Experience developing manufacturing systems, tooling, production lines, and test infrastructure for complex hardware programs.
Deep knowledge of NPI methodologies, production readiness processes, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement frameworks.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across engineering and production organizations, driving alignment between design intent and manufacturing execution.
Strong leadership and team development skills with experience building high-performing technical organizations.
Excellent problem-solving, project management, and decision-making abilities in fast-paced development environments.
Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
Experience supporting rapid production ramps and scaling manufacturing operations in dynamic environments.
Familiarity with aerospace quality systems, regulatory requirements, and safety standards applicable to flight hardware manufacturing.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and scale the Manufacturing Development organization supporting spacecraft production, including Manufacturing Engineering, Integration Engineering, Test Engineering, NPI, and production readiness initiatives.
Own the transition of new spacecraft products and subsystems from development into volume production, ensuring manufacturability, repeatability, and production scalability.
Drive NPI execution across spacecraft programs, partnering closely with Design Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, Quality, and Test teams throughout the product lifecycle.
Develop and implement manufacturing development strategies that support aggressive production ramp goals while maintaining high quality and reliability standards.
Establish robust manufacturing processes, assembly flows, tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and test methodologies for new and existing spacecraft hardware.
Lead production readiness reviews, risk assessments, and factory integration planning for new products and major design changes.
Identify manufacturing bottlenecks and drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and cost optimization.
Partner with leadership to define factory scaling strategies, resource planning, capital investments, and long-term manufacturing roadmaps.
Drive design-for-manufacturing (DFM), design-for-assembly (DFA), and design-for-test (DFT) best practices across engineering teams.
Build and develop high-performing technical teams while fostering a culture of urgency, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies, automation strategies, and production systems to improve efficiency and scalability.
Support rapid development timelines and evolving program priorities in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Benefits

Equity in Apex
100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
$100k life insurance at no cost
15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually
10 paid holidays
Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
8 weeks paid parental leave
Childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
Daily catered lunch
Unlimited snacks
Monthly office socials
Pickleball tournaments
Run club
Gatherings for you and your family
Dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self
World-class Playa Vista office
Flexibility to integrate work and life