Lead Solar Manufacturing Engineering (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Lead Solar Manufacturing Engineering (Aerospace): Build and lead a world-class team owning manufacturing processes for solar modules, photovoltaic arrays, deployment mechanisms, and mechanical structures with an accent on design-for-manufacturing, tooling, automation, and scalable production. Focus on developing assembly flows, qualifying equipment, resolving production issues, and partnering with design teams to ensure producible revolutionary hardware.

Location: Los Angeles, CA. Active Top Secret or DoD Secret clearance with SAP eligibility required. Must be a U.S. Person per ITAR regulations.

Salary: $145,000 - $200,000 + equity

Company

Building the largest and highest-power satellites for LEO to deep space missions, backed by $450M from top investors with $500M in contracts.

What you will do

• Build and lead Solar Manufacturing Engineering team: hire, mentor, develop experts in process engineering, tooling, reliability, automation.
• Own manufacturing processes for solar modules, arrays, deployment mechanisms, structures, and integration into flight-ready solar wings.
• Oversee large design overhauls, develop assembly flows, tooling, build sequencing, process documentation for repeatable execution.
• Partner with design teams on design-for-manufacturing, source and qualify equipment, tooling, automation.
• Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Production to resolve issues, maintain schedules, hit delivery targets.
• Represent manufacturing in design reviews, readiness reviews, customer interactions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or related engineering field.
• 1+ years leading/managing large teams on complex projects through development and build.
• 4+ years solar manufacturing or solar-responsible engineering experience.
• Experience leading projects from prototypes through iterations to production scaling.
• Track record creating process documentation, tooling designs; managing vendors/suppliers.
• History implementing DFM reducing cost, improving quality, speeding delivery.
• Background in high-volume/automated manufacturing; precision alignment, metrology, electromechanical systems.
• Experience ramping production rates; exposure to ATP campaigns; Active Top Secret/DoD Secret clearance with SAP eligibility.

Nice to have

• Experience in high-volume or highly automated manufacturing environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits: paid time off, medical/dental/vision, life insurance, paid parental leave, many perks.
• Equity in the company.
• Fast-paced Series C space startup environment.
• Encourages non-traditional career paths; reasonable accommodations available.