Manager, Manufacturing Operations

Virgin Galactic • Gilbert, AZ

3d • $99,498 - $151,719

About The Position

Virgin Galactic is seeking an experienced Manager of Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing execution for Rocket Motor production. The role leads a multi-tier team of associate managers, supervisors, leads, and technicians across multiple facilities and departments. It owns the manufacturing build plan and execution strategy for spaceflight systems and vehicles and represents Manufacturing to Program Leadership. The manager works with Program Managers, schedulers, engineering, and other cross-functional teams to deliver programs safely, on time, and on budget while complying with company policies, procedures, and objectives.

The position is scheduled Thursday through Monday on a day schedule. As an exempt role, it may require work outside the technician shift schedule. The manager oversees manufacturing planning, scheduling, execution, budgets, headcount, labor deployment, training and qualification, safety, quality, and continuous improvement. The annual U.S. base salary range is $99,498 to $151,719. Other pay, such as a bonus or long-term incentive, and medical, financial, and other benefits may be provided depending on the position offered.

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company developing advanced air and space vehicles for private individuals and researchers. Applicants must meet U.S. Government export-control requirements: be a U.S. Person or be able to obtain the necessary authorization, and not be included on the OFAC Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list. Employment is subject to the company's equal opportunity and drug-free workplace policies. Employment at the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility is contingent on obtaining and maintaining a TSA-authorized security badge and completing required background checks.

Requirements

• Relevant education, such as a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field; trade school or an associate degree with equivalent technical work experience will be considered.
• At least eight years of experience in aerospace or an equivalent high-reliability field.
• At least five years leading supervisors, leads, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Leadership experience with production, assembly, and systems-integration teams; aerospace and/or manufacturing experience is identified as ideal.
• Experience in manufacturing leadership, manufacturing program/project management, or production planning.
• Strong production-line knowledge, including component assembly from subassembly through final top-level assembly.
• Demonstrated budget-management experience for manufacturing programs or departments.
• Experience deploying labor and managing headcount to meet production schedules.
• Experience defining technical training requirements and developing team qualification or certification plans.
• Demonstrated experience driving Root Cause and Corrective Action to closure.
• Extensive experience and/or training in Lean manufacturing principles and leading process-improvement workshops or Kaizen events.
• Strong understanding of engineering and manufacturing functions and the relationship among schedule, quality, and budget.
• Working knowledge of configuration-management practices and quality-management processes.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, blueprints, and/or models in paper or digital formats.
• Computer and analytical skills, including proficiency with MS Excel, manufacturing software, scheduling tools, or related programs and dashboards.
• Experience in a start-up organization or a highly unique cultural environment.
• Some experience in an external customer-facing role.
• Familiarity with personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Able to stand for at least nine hours.
• Able to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces.
• Physically able to handle items weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted.
• Must satisfy applicable U.S. Government export-control requirements, including the U.S. Person or authorization requirement and the OFAC screening requirement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, coordinate, and execute manufacturing operations, including program budgets, headcount, and labor deployment.
• Create, develop, implement, and maintain manufacturing build plans for the program.
• Lead project planning, recovery plans, and build execution for project and program deliverables.
• Translate program strategy into actionable manufacturing priorities and provide a clear plan of action for the program.
• Work with multiple Program Managers to deliver projects safely, on time, and on budget.
• Report program status, risks, and other metrics to Program Leadership to support short- and long-term goals.
• Communicate scheduling setbacks and develop and implement recovery plans with engineering and manufacturing to resolve conflicts.
• Coordinate manufacturing and engineering functions to support the build schedule, identifying tooling, materials, resources, planning, and product definition for transition from design documentation to production.
• Partner with production control and planning to support assembly flow across functions and implement agile responses to project adjustments.
• Influence technical projects, technicians, and interdepartmental functions to achieve goals and solve problems.
• Help manage budgets for programs and departments within Manufacturing.
• Own labor deployment and headcount management, and develop annual labor resource forecasts aligned with the build schedule and Integrated Master Schedule in collaboration with program stakeholders.
• Define technical training requirements and ensure team members are trained and qualified for their work.
• Drive Root Cause and Corrective Action efforts and Lean and continuous-improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, schedule, and cost.
• Promote safe behaviors, enforce Foreign Object Debris awareness and prevention, and ensure adherence to regulatory protocols and rules.
• Coach, train, and transfer expertise to the team to drive projects to completion.
• Prioritize deliverables according to the production schedule, organizational goals, and metrics, with clearly defined roles and accountability.

Benefits

• Medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered.
• Other forms of pay, such as a bonus or long-term incentive, may be provided as part of the compensation package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager