Equipment Operations Manager

Portal Space Systems•Bothell, WA

1d•$135,000 - $190,000

About The Position

Portal Space Systems is seeking an Equipment Operations Manager to lead the selection, procurement, installation, commissioning, and ongoing reliability of industrial equipment in a high-tech satellite manufacturing environment. The role owns equipment operations end-to-end, from evaluating vendor proposals and coordinating equipment delivery through installation oversight and long-term maintenance strategy. The manager works with contractors, OEMs, internal trades, and Production, Facilities, and Engineering teams to stand up new capabilities, meet production schedules, and maintain reliable equipment performance. The role includes planning equipment installations, overseeing acceptance testing, developing maintenance strategies, troubleshooting equipment issues, managing parts and contractor support, tracking equipment performance indicators, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. The position may involve access to ITAR-controlled technical data and materials; employment is contingent on verifying the candidate’s ITAR eligibility and obtaining any required export authorization or license.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in equipment engineering, capital project execution, or manufacturing maintenance in a high-tech or aerospace production environment.
Knowledge of maintenance best practices and industry standards, such as TPM and RCM.
Understanding of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic/hydraulic, and control systems used in industrial production equipment.
Experience managing contractors and coordinating multi-trade installation activities.
Experience with safety systems and lock-out/tag-out procedures.
Strong project management and planning abilities, with a proven record of delivering equipment installation projects on time and on budget.
Ability to access equipment in various positions, including climbing, bending, and reaching, and respond to emergency maintenance situations.
Willingness to work off-shift hours for critical installations or equipment issues.
Ability to wear required PPE.
Must meet U.S. person eligibility requirements for access to ITAR-controlled items, with any required export authorization or license.

Nice To Haves

Experience in satellite, aerospace, or cleanroom manufacturing environments.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Effective communication skills across organizational levels, from technicians to senior leadership.
Familiarity with automated assembly systems, robotic work cells, or custom fixturing.
PLC programming and troubleshooting experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar systems.
Experience with facility utility systems, such as compressed air, vacuum, process gases, and power distribution, as related to equipment installation.
CMMS/EAM system experience, such as SAP PM or Maximo, for maintenance planning and work order management.
Metrology equipment experience, including CMMs, laser trackers, or optical inspection systems.
Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement certification.
Contractor and vendor management experience, including RFP development and contract negotiation.
Experience with BIM, AutoCAD, or facility layout tools for equipment placement planning.

Responsibilities

Evaluate, select, and specify capital equipment to meet satellite manufacturing production requirements, safety standards, and facility constraints.
Develop equipment requirements documents, coordinate vendor evaluations, and lead technical bid reviews.
Track equipment delivery schedules, manage vendor milestones, and escalate risks to meet production timelines.
Plan and execute equipment installations, including site preparation, rigging, utility tie-ins, and commissioning.
Coordinate installation activities with contractors, OEMs, and internal trades while minimizing production disruption.
Develop installation schedules, manage contractor scopes of work, and ensure quality and safety standards are met.
Oversee Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) to validate equipment performance against specifications.
Develop and implement preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance strategies to maximize equipment availability and performance.
Troubleshoot complex equipment issues and lead root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
Manage spare parts inventory, maintenance resource allocation, and contractor support plans.
Develop and track equipment KPIs, including MTTR, MTBF, and OEE.
Create and manage equipment budgets for capital purchases, installation labor, parts, and ongoing contractor costs.
Partner with Production, Facilities, and Engineering teams to align equipment plans with production schedules and facility readiness.
Lead equipment improvement projects to improve reliability, reduce operating costs, and support capacity growth.
Ensure compliance with safety protocols, lock-out/tag-out procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.