Supervisor, Thermal Hardware

the company was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today the company is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

the company continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technology with pragmatic, lean manufacturing. This is especially important within Thermal Protection Systems and their associated adhesives, coatings, paints, and ablatives. These materials are designed to withstand the extreme environments of launch, on‑orbit operations, and reentry. The Thermal Hardware Supervisor leads a team of technicians in manufacturing silicone adhesives, paints, and ablatives for Starship, Raptor, Dragon, Falcon, and Starlink.

They are the most influential person on‑site to drive progress on an hour‑by‑hour and day‑by‑day basis. The Supervisor is also a key enabler of a productive, fun, and hard‑working culture of continuous improvement. For this role specifically, they must be an inspiring leader, often working side by side with their engineering team to execute on the mission to make spaceflight more reliable and economical.

• Lead for all aspects of daily production operations:
  • Plan and coordinate daily tasks that support the production of glues, paints, and emulsions
  • Balance resources across the team to effectively prioritize work
  • Drive progress daily by proactively communicating needs and blockers to production goals
  • Build and manage a strong, motivated production team that consistently delivers high quality products against aggressive production targets
  • Manage consumables and tool inventory to support work‑cell efficiency
  • Prioritize and improve area safety through regular auditing and continuous improvement
  • Lead by example; step in to help where necessary
• Facilitate the development of technician skills by developing personnel qualifications and training modules
• Collaborate with the Production Manager to plan an operational strategy to produce products efficiently and reliably
• Utilize data‑driven metrics to track progress towards production goals and proactively champion initiatives to improve
• Accountable for the establishment and utilization of proper material flow through the factory, including setting up incoming/WIP/outgoing lanes, lineside inventory, and transaction procedures
• Work with engineering to design and set up factory layout and flow to optimize efficiency and reliability of operation, as well as to support factory moves and expansion
• Work with engineering to develop and maintain sufficient work instructions and process specifications to support production and safety
• Work with engineering and machine maintenance to develop and maintain preventive maintenance procedures, critical parts, and spare parts inventory to keep the production line healthy
• Support setting up and troubleshooting machinery and production equipment to ensure timely operation
• Enable the team to effectively contribute to ongoing material development (i.e., bringing new products online and/or improving current products)

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 4+ years of experience in a production role within aerospace, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, or industrial/chemical processing
• 1+ years of experience leading a team or projects

• 6+ years of experience working in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment
• 4+ years of direct production leadership experience
• Experience with adhesive, paints, or emulsion manufacturing methods
• Experience with mechanical and materials characterization testing
• Experience using silicone RTV’s, paints, and ablatives in fabricating parts and assemblies
• Hands‑on experience working on production processes
• Experience in materials and process development
• Experience in scaling production
• Basic machine shop fabrication proficiency
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability, Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Failure Mode Effects Analysis
• Familiarity with Supply Chain demand and planning principles
• Ability to effectively…