Head of Manufacturing - Build the factory and team that scale interceptors from prototype to production

El Segundo, California | On-site

Opportunity Summary

This role builds the manufacturing function from today's flight prototypes to a production line that delivers interceptors at volume. You will own how the hardware gets built, including the facility, processes, tooling, quality, and the team doing the work. You will report to the CEO.

Interceptors only matter if they can be produced reliably, affordably, and in quantity. You will partner with the founders, engineering leads, and supply chain to ensure the vehicle is designed for manufacture and can be built at the rate and cost customers require.

About Us

We are a seed-stage, venture-backed defense technology company building affordable, modular interceptors for air and missile defense, with surface-launched and space-based platforms in development. The team has already demonstrated autonomous intercepts and is moving quickly from prototype hardware into flight testing from our South Bay facility. We are a small group of engineers and operators who design, build, and test in-house, with a clear path toward scaled production for government customers.

Job Duties

• Build and lead the manufacturing team, hiring technicians and manufacturing engineers as the company grows
• Own manufacturing strategy, including what is built in-house versus outsourced and when
• Set manufacturing priorities with the founders and engineering leads, and make tradeoffs clear
• Keep prototype and test hardware builds moving quickly without compromising quality
• Create build procedures, work instructions, and records that capture lessons from every build
• Plan and stand up the production facility, equipment, and tooling
• Develop production processes for structures, electronics, final assembly, and test, with a path to low-rate and full-rate production
• Own unit cost and production rate, and drive both toward targets
• Embed design-for-manufacturing and design-for-test early in each design
• Build a scalable quality system covering inspection, nonconformance, and corrective action, targeting AS9100 certification
• Own manufacturing safety, including safe handling and storage of energetic materials
• Ensure manufacturing meets customer, contract, and regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, or aerospace engineering, or a related field
• 7+ years of manufacturing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware, including 5+ years in leadership
• Track record scaling a hardware product from prototype to production
• Experience building and leading manufacturing teams
• Strong knowledge of quality systems such as AS9100 and production processes
• Experience planning facilities, equipment, and tooling
• U.S. Person status required (ITAR) and ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred Experience

• Missile, munitions, rocket, or flight vehicle manufacturing
• Energetics manufacturing or explosives safety programs such as DoD 4145.26
• Low-rate initial production on defense programs
• Lean manufacturing, automation, or high-volume production
• ERP or MES implementation
• Prior early-stage startup experience

Why Join Us

• Build the manufacturing organization and facility from the ground up
• Report directly to the CEO with a seat in core company decisions
• Shape the path from prototype to production for a defense product
• Hire and lead your own team
• Early equity in a seed-stage company with a rapidly growing team
• Mission with direct national security impact

Compensation Details

$170,000 - $210,000 + equity