Head of Manufacturing

Aether Biomachines•South San Francisco, CA

5h•$200,000 - $300,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Aether Biomachines is building the future of protein-engineered materials. Our Protein Function Model unlocks entirely new classes of high-performance polymers and additive manufacturing feedstocks, enabling breakthrough applications across aerospace, defense, clean energy, and beyond. As we transition from breakthrough R&D to scaled commercial production, we are building a world-class global materials operations function. We are seeking a Head of Manufacturing to architect, scale, and lead our end-to-end manufacturing and supply chain strategy across the U.S. and Europe. This executive will own the strategy, systems, partnerships, and organizational buildout required to transform novel materials innovation into reliable, multi-site, commercial-scale production. You will design and lead Aether’s global manufacturing and materials operations infrastructure - from manufacturing network strategy and CMO governance to supply chain architecture, cost structure, risk mitigation, and quality systems - ensuring our materials scale with technical integrity, commercial reliability, and capital efficiency. This role requires both executive-level systems design and hands-on operational engagement. The right leader will be comfortable stepping into the details of a production issue at a CMO while simultaneously building the long-term infrastructure that makes those interventions less frequent over time. You will partner closely with R&D/Product, Finance, and Commercial leadership to translate innovation into durable, high-performance production capability.

Requirements

15+ years in chemical, polymer, specialty materials, or advanced manufacturing environments.
Experience scaling production from pilot to sustained multi-site commercial volumes.
Track record of building or transforming a manufacturing network, including CMO governance.
Experience operating at the VP or senior director level with enterprise accountability.
Comfortable operating as both strategist and operator - able to design the system and step in when it breaks.
Willing to travel on short notice to manufacturing sites to resolve critical issues and build trust with partners.
Demonstrated history of personally stepping into complex production challenges and driving them to resolution.
You use real-time operational issues as diagnostic input to strengthen systems, processes, and controls.
You maintain high standards without relying on heroics; you build durable mechanisms that reduce firefighting over time.
You are comfortable working without large internal infrastructure; able to build structure while operating within ambiguity.
Bias toward action when production, quality, or customer delivery is at risk.
Comfortable leading without extensive middle management layers.
Hands-on enough to review batch records or production data directly when needed.
High ownership mindset - you view manufacturing performance as a direct reflection of company credibility.
Energized by building in environments where structure is still forming.
Experience managing operating budgets and influencing capital allocation decisions.
Demonstrated ability to build and scale teams through high-growth phases.
Skilled at aligning cross-functional executive stakeholders around operational tradeoffs.
Credibility with scientists, process engineers, and manufacturing leaders.
Exceptional communicator capable of bridging R&D, commercial, and external production partners.
Comfortable operating in ambiguity while building structure.