Head of Build

Astro Mechanica • San Francisco, CA

95d

About The Position

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.

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 at Astro Mechanica, 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 Astro Mechanica’s 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 Astro Mechanica stays ahead in manufacturing capabilities as we evolve our propulsion systems and aircraft.

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: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees