Associate Manager, Manufacturing Operations

Virgin Galactic is seeking an experienced Associate Manufacturing Manager to oversee manufacturing execution ded by our values, “Safety above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions in the design and assembly efforts. This position will manage, which may include supervisors, leads and technicians in multiple facilities/departments.

This role will be responsible for managing the build/strategy of our spaceflight systems vehicles to drive our success. Responsibilities will include planning, scheduling, coordinating, and executing all aspects of our manufacturing operation. You will work closely with various build managers, schedulers, and other cross functional departments to ensure all manufacturing projects are supported as needed to achieve their objectives while ensuring compliance with company’s policies, procedures and overall objectives.

4/10 Onsite Thursday through Monday Day Shift

As an exempt position, the Supervisor may be required to work outside of the technician shift schedule.

Onsite Monday through Friday Day Shift

Onsite Monday through Friday Night Shift

• Influences technical projects, technicians, or inter-departmental functions to achieve goals and/or solve problems
• Manages budgets for projects and departments within the Manufacturing organization
• Motivates, inspires, and develops the Manufacturing Team through leading and managing technicians
• Holds accountability for coordination of assigned project(s) amongst the team
• Assists other department leaders in the development, planning, implementation, and maintenance of a strategic build plan for the program
• Provides clear direction for the Manufacturing team
• Collaborates with leadership team to develop and implement agile response strategies for rapid project adjustments
• Creates and implements recovery plans with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to mitigate schedule setbacks and support conflict resolution
• Works with production control/planning to assure assembly flow is properly supported by all functions to deliver material and hardware on schedule
• Continues improving procedures, processes, and operational efficiency
• Partners with any cross functional teams to ensure vehicles meet design and quality standards
• Drives safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; adhere to regulatory protocols and rules
• Coaches, trains, and transfers expertise to the team to drive projects to completion
• Ensures work deliverables are prioritized based on production schedule, organizational goals, and metrics and align by defining roles

• Associate’s degree in related field; and /or combination of education and work experience is required
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in an aerospace or equivalent high-reliability field with 3 years of leading others and/ or demonstrated ability to lead and train on technical concepts
• Demonstrated leadership experience with production, assembly, and systems integration teams, ideally in aerospace and/or manufacturing environment
• Experience in Manufacturing Leadership, Manufacturing Project Management, or Production Planning
• Experience in a start-up organization or a highly unique cultural environment
• Some experience within an external customer-facing role
• Strong understanding of engineering and manufacturing functions
• Excellent knowledge of component assembly, both subassembly and final top-level assembly
• Extensive experience and/or training in lean manufacturing principles and leading or participating in process improvement workshops or Kaizen events
• Strong understanding of schedule, quality, and budget relationship
• Working knowledge of configuration…