Production Specialist (SME)

X-Bow Systems•Luling, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Specialist serves as a subject matter expert for Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) manufacturing and production execution, supporting the development, readiness, ramp, and sustainment of production systems. The role provides hands-on manufacturing expertise across the SRM production value stream and integrates work across Production Program Management, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Safety, Supply Chain, Material Program Management, Configuration Management, Tooling, Facilities, and Engineering. The position evaluates whether manufacturing processes, facilities, equipment, tooling, materials, documentation, personnel, and supporting systems can safely and consistently meet production requirements. The successful candidate brings experience in aerospace, defense, energetic materials, propulsion, or other complex manufacturing environments, and understands the transition from product development to repeatable, rate-capable production. This person works directly on the production floor to identify constraints, develop practical solutions, mentor production personnel, and coordinate cross-functional actions that support production readiness and delivery commitments. The position is onsite in Luling, Texas, with a schedule of 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. X-Bow Launch Systems, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced by legally protected status.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent and 10+ years of relevant aerospace, defense, propulsion, energetic materials, manufacturing, or production experience; OR an associate's degree and 8+ years of relevant manufacturing experience; OR a bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline and 5+ years of relevant manufacturing experience.
Demonstrated experience supporting complex manufacturing or assembly operations.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production flow, tooling, equipment, work instructions, and shop-floor execution.
Experience identifying and resolving production constraints.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, manufacturing work instructions, and configuration-controlled documentation.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain organizations.
Strong problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to work independently and provide technical manufacturing guidance to production teams.
Ability and willingness to maintain a strong presence in active manufacturing environments.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations, to conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR.

Responsibilities

Serve as a production subject matter expert across the SRM value stream, providing hands-on manufacturing expertise from development and production readiness through rate ramp and full-rate production.
Evaluate production readiness and manufacturability, ensuring processes, personnel, materials, tooling, equipment, facilities, quality controls, and safety requirements support production execution.
Support Production Readiness Reviews (PRRs) by identifying readiness gaps, production constraints, risks, and required actions, and drive issues toward resolution with responsible functional organizations.
Develop and optimize production value streams by identifying bottlenecks, capacity constraints, material-flow issues, and opportunities to improve cycle time, throughput, scalability, and production performance.
Support rate and capacity planning, including cycle-time assessments, staffing requirements, equipment and tooling needs, work-center layouts, production sequencing, and production ramp strategies.
Maintain a strong production-floor presence and partner with technicians, supervisors, and engineers to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and implement practical, sustainable solutions.
Provide manufacturing expertise during process changes, engineering changes, nonconformances, root-cause investigations, and production recovery activities.
Partner cross-functionally with Production Program Management, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Safety, Supply Chain/MPM, Configuration Management, Tooling, Facilities, and Engineering to resolve production constraints.
Support development and implementation of standardized production systems, including standard work, production controls, visual management, 5S, material control, tool accountability, and other operational disciplines.
Provide technical mentorship and knowledge transfer to technicians and production personnel, supporting qualification, cross-training, workforce capability, and documentation of manufacturing best practices.
Identify and escalate safety, quality, cost, schedule, capacity, and throughput risks before they affect program production commitments.
Drive continuous improvement across the production system to increase safety, quality, repeatability, manufacturability, throughput, and production efficiency.