Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Operations

Terran Orbital Corporation • Irvine, CA

6d

About The Position

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!
Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Operations to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Manufacturing Operations, the Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Operations will own the strategic capacity planning, throughput optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives that will power our manufacturing growth. You’ll partner closely with Engineering, ME, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain to translate cutting-edge designs into efficient, scalable, high-yield production systems. If you excel at turning complexity into structure, driving operational excellence, and leading cross-functional teams toward measurable impact, this role gives you the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a rapidly scaling operation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations/Supply Chain Management, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, with increasing responsibility
• Proven experience developing capacity models and resource planning framework
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional operational initiatives
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset
• Experience working directly with production teams and manufacturing engineering
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and drive structure
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
• U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance

Nice To Haves

• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments (aerospace/defense preferred)
• Hands-on experience leading Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and 6S implementation
• Experience with yield improvement root cause corrective action methodologies
• Prior involvement in production ramp, scale-up, or facility/plant relocation
• Experience implementing or supporting SIOP processes
• Background in organizations transitioning from R&D to production
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and implementation

Responsibilities

• Capacity Planning and Modeling
• Develop and implement end-to-end capacity and resource models across manufacturing (CMG and AIT)
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering (ME), Production, and Planning to define labor standards, cycle times, and constraints
• Identify bottlenecks and develop actionable plans to improve throughput and resource utilization
• Establish and maintain a rough-cut and detailed capacity planning process aligned with SIOP
• Drive scenario modeling to support demand variability, ramp plans, and NPI
• Continuous Improvement (CI) & 6S
• Lead and facilitate Kaizen events focused on yield improvement, cycle time reduction, and waste elimination
• Implement and sustain 6S standards across manufacturing areas
• Develop structured problem-solving capabilities (RCA)
• Drive NCR trend analysis and systematic corrective actions in partnership with Quality and Engineering
• Establish KPIs and visual management systems to track operational performance
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Lead cross-functional initiatives involving Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production
• Act as a bridge between engineering and operations to ensure manufacturability and execution alignment
• Drive accountability and execution discipline across teams
• Facilitate regular operational reviews
• Operational Execution & Scaling
• Support production ramp and scaling activities, including balancing and resource alignment
• Contribute to plant layout optimization and potential facility expansion or relocation efforts
• Develop standard work and operating rhythms for production environments
• Support the development of SIOP processes and planning integration

Benefits

• 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees