Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline or equivalent leadership experience
3+ years in production operations or process development
2+ years in a leadership role
Experience with chemical manufacturing processes
Ability to adapt in a dynamic startup environment
Responsibilities
Manage a large multi-shift team of supervisors and technicians
Prioritize safety and maintain high safety standards
Recruit, onboard, and develop production leaders
Create training programs to enhance operational efficiency
Define and enforce operational standards with accountability
Collaborate with engineering to optimize manufacturing processes
Drive continuous improvement through performance metrics
Benefits
Opportunity to work at a leading aerospace company
Dynamic and innovative work environment
Exposure to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies
Career development and growth potential
Engagement in high-impact projects facilitating global connectivity
Full Job Description
MANAGER, CHEMICAL PROCESS PRODUCTION (STARLINK)
SpaceX is scaling advanced manufacturing to power revolutionary products like Starlink satellites, solar cells, and next-gen semiconductors. Our chemical-intensive production facilities-from wafer/ingot processing to high-volume deposition and etching-enable rapid innovation and global connectivity at the scales required for growing Starlink and other critical SpaceX missions.
We are looking for a well-rounded leader who is passionate about disciplined operations and capable of taking charge of a broad array of responsibilities required to build a world-class operations team. You will be responsible for growing the production team that will operate and maintain this equipment, establishing the standards by which this team operates, and shepherding the program from equipment setup thru full production ramp. This individual must have the capability to rapidly become a subject matter expert on multiple complex production operations, and capable of operating successfully within a dynamic startup environment while identifying and executing actions needed to ensure mission success.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage a large team of supervisors, technicians, and associates on a multi-shift schedule
Ensure a strong focus is placed on safety and maintain an excellent safety record
Build talent pipeline: Recruit, onboard, and develop leaders and ICs
Create training/onboarding programs and career development paths to boost quality, reduce lead time/cost
Define and enforce operational standards with strict accountability
Collaborate with engineering to startup & optimize chemical manufacturing equipment & processes
Drive continuous improvement via metrics (yield, OEE, throughput)
Ensure root causes for quality issues are identified and appropriate improvement actions are put in place to prevent recurrence
Report area status/risks to leadership and foster cross-department collaboration
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline; OR 4+ years of professional leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
3+ years of production operations or process development experience
2+ years of experience in a leadership position
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor's degree in an engineering or technical discipline
Experience building out a multidisciplinary production organization
Experience leading multi-level production operations teams with 50+ members
Experience standing up a new production line and bringing it to rate
Experience with chemical manufacturing processes including electroplating, chemical etching/deposition, coating application, layup/lamination, laser/mechanical processing, and/or electrical/quality testing in a production setting
Experience in related fields such as wafer fabrication, silicon packaging/ingot production, SMT, battery, solar cell, or chemical manufacturing
Experience with applying lean manufacturing principles
Ability to adapt to constantly changing work environment
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to travel on an ongoing basis, including internationally (up to 20%)
Ability to stand up to 6 hours, lift 25 pounds unassisted, and maneuver around equipment in a factory setting
Ability to work in cleanroom and industrial environments with fumes/odors, noise, hazardous chemicals, and confined spaces
Must be willing to work all shifts, extended hours and weekends as needed
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk. The company designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX has developed the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon spacecraft. The company was founded with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has achieved several milestones in spaceflight, including the first privately-funded liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, the first privately-funded company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, and the first privately-funded company to send a human-rated spacecraft to orbit.