Head of Build

Executive Recruiting Group • San Francisco, CA

20d

About The Position

We are seeking a Head of Build that is a builder at heart—someone who thrives at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, prototyping, and leadership. You’ve spent years working in high-mix, low-volume environments, where speed, precision, and adaptability are equally critical. You are hands-on with machines and tools, but equally skilled at building teams, processes, and shops that scale. You get energy from solving hard problems, bringing order to complexity, and enabling others to do their best work. You’re motivated by the idea of building something that has never been built before, and you’re excited to help shape the future of aerospace from the ground up.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing and prototyping, particularly within aerospace, defense, or similarly complex, precision-driven industries.
• Hands-on expertise with core tools and systems we use today— 5-axis mill CNC, multi-axis turning, and additive manufacturing—as well as demonstrated ability to rapidly learn and implement new manufacturing techniques and platforms.
• Thoughtful management skills and the ability to lead a growing technical team.
• Proven leadership in shop setup and scaling, including facility design, equipment selection, workflow design, and team growth.
• Strong technical foundation in machining, fabrication, metrology, and advanced manufacturing methods, with a track record of delivering on ambitious build timelines.
• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work across design, engineering, and test teams to translate complex requirements into manufacturable hardware.
• Ambition to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the build function establishing a world-class prototyping and manufacturing environment tailored to high-mix, low-volume aerospace systems.
• Own the planning, setup, and scaling of our machine shop, fabrication, and related capabilities as the company grows, ensuring safety, efficiency, and capability expansion.
• Use expertise from a wide range of manufacturing experience to determine which processes are most appropriate to solve a given design challenge.
• Stay current on the latest developments in novel manufacturing techniques in order to bring new possible solutions to our design efforts.
• Oversee the operation and integration of advanced manufacturing technologies—including 5-axis CNC milling, multi-axis turning, and additive manufacturing.
• Partner closely with design, test, and engineering teams to ensure rapid iteration, manufacturability, and seamless integration between design intent and physical build.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of technicians and machinists, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop robust processes for quality, traceability, and throughput without compromising the speed and flexibility required in early-stage prototyping.
• Serve as the company’s technical authority on build strategy, ensuring our company stays ahead in manufacturing capabilities as we evolve our propulsion systems and aircraft.

What This Job Offers

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