Head of Manufacturing & Industrialization

Valstad•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Valstad is building a new manufacturing platform for rapidly producing large, complex steel structures using robotics, automation and software. Our initial systems combine robotic material handling, automated fit-up, welding, sensing and manufacturing-planning software to produce ship panels and related structures directly from engineering data. Our broader mission is to dramatically increase the speed and capacity of American shipbuilding and heavy industrial production. We are moving from proving the underlying technology to building a repeatable production system capable of reliably delivering commercial, marine and defense structures. The Role Valstad is seeking a Head of Manufacturing & Industrialization to build and lead our manufacturing operation in Austin. This is not a role for someone who expects to inherit a mature factory, stable processes and a large support organization. You will help design the production system itself, establish the operating discipline around it and take direct responsibility for turning robotic manufacturing capabilities into reliable customer output. You will own production performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost and throughput. You will also serve as the primary bridge between engineering development and day-to-day manufacturing. The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing-engineering fundamentals with direct operating experience. You should be comfortable moving between production planning, fixture reviews, quality problems, equipment downtime, operator development and long-term capacity planning, often in the same day.

Requirements

Ten or more years of experience in manufacturing, industrialization, manufacturing engineering or production operations.
Experience launching or scaling a new production line, factory or major manufacturing process.
Direct ownership of production outcomes across safety, quality, delivery and cost.
Strong understanding of manufacturing engineering, production systems, process control and continuous improvement.
Experience working with automated equipment, industrial robotics or highly integrated manufacturing systems.
Experience managing both technical personnel and hourly production teams.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively when equipment and processes are still evolving.
Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to work directly on the production floor.
Experience using production data to identify constraints and drive measurable improvements.
Ability to communicate clearly with operators, engineers, executives, customers and suppliers.

Nice To Haves

Experience in heavy steel fabrication
Shipbuilding or marine manufacturing
Structural welding
Aerospace structures
Automotive body-in-white
Robotic welding and material handling
Defense manufacturing
Large industrial assemblies
High-mix, low-volume production
Factory or production-line launches
Manufacturing-as-a-service
Degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering or a related discipline.
Experience with welded structures and welding-quality systems.
Familiarity with AWS, ABS, NAVSEA or other regulated manufacturing requirements.
Experience with dimensional inspection, metrology and configuration control.
Experience introducing MES, ERP, digital work instructions or production-data systems.
Lean, Six Sigma or similar training, provided it is backed by direct operating experience.
Experience in an early-stage company or new manufacturing operation.

Responsibilities

Own daily and weekly production performance, including safety, quality, schedule, cost and throughput.
Establish production planning, job sequencing, material-staging and shipment processes.
Build a clear operating cadence using daily production reviews, visual management and measurable performance indicators.
Create the systems required to deliver customer parts predictably and communicate risks early.
Develop staffing, shift and capacity plans as production volume increases.
Recruit and lead manufacturing engineers, supervisors, technicians, welders, fitters and quality personnel.
Convert new robotic and manufacturing capabilities from engineering demonstrations into stable production processes.
Establish production-readiness criteria and formal handoffs between engineering and manufacturing.
Develop routings, work instructions, control plans, standard work and production documentation.
Lead cycle-time reduction, line balancing, bottleneck analysis and process-capability improvement.
Improve material flow, workholding, tooling, ergonomics and operator interaction with automated systems.
Determine where additional automation creates value and where simpler manual processes are preferable.
Develop the operating model required to scale from individual robotic cells to multiple production lines.
Build the initial manufacturing quality system in partnership with the Welding Engineer and customer-quality stakeholders.
Establish inspection points, acceptance criteria, nonconformance processes and corrective-action systems.
Ensure traceability of materials, welding procedures, inspection results and production records.
Develop first-pass yield, rework, dimensional accuracy and process-capability metrics.
Support qualification for increasingly demanding commercial, marine and defense work.
Ensure that production pressure never overrides safety, quality or configuration control.
Own manufacturing equipment availability and overall equipment effectiveness.
Establish preventive-maintenance, calibration, spare-parts and equipment-recovery processes.
Work with robotics, controls and mechanical engineers to improve cell reliability and maintainability.
Define escalation paths for production faults and ensure that recurring problems receive permanent corrective action.
Participate directly in commissioning, debugging and production ramp-up of new robotic equipment.
Develop credible cost-per-part, cost-per-ton and labor-hour models.
Track actual production performance against estimates and use the results to improve quoting and planning.
Build capacity models covering equipment, labor, material, floor space and working capital.
Support make-versus-buy decisions and the selection of critical suppliers and subcontractors.
Partner with the commercial team to evaluate customer requirements, schedules and production feasibility before commitments are made.
Build a strong safety culture appropriate for robotic welding, heavy steel handling, cranes and industrial equipment.
Establish training, qualification and authorization requirements for production personnel.
Create an environment where operators and technicians identify problems, contribute improvements and stop work when conditions are unsafe.
Develop future manufacturing leaders as the organization grows.