Production Manager, Machining & Fabrication

The role

You will lead the machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection, and spacecraft paint teams. You will serve as the site production leader for a new hardware development and manufacturing facility, managing safety, facilities, and day-to-day operations.

What you will do

• Manage and develop specialized work centers including machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection, and spacecraft paint
• Ensure safety, quality, and turn time are upheld by the team
• Manage the schedule and delivery of machined parts, welded assemblies, prototype hardware, tooling, fixtures, and GSE
• Set daily priorities and adjust to engineering changes
• Identify and remove constraints regarding equipment, resources, material, or process
• Drive capability expansion through equipment selection, capital investment, and make vs. buy decisions
• Support the buildout of new manufacturing and development areas
• Establish metrics for throughput, schedule adherence, utilization, equipment readiness, and quality
• Serve as site lead for the building, coordinating with Facilities, Design Engineering, and Test

Required qualifications

• 4+ years of direct people leadership in a fast-paced machining or fabrication environment
• 8+ years of hands-on experience in machining, fabrication, or precision manufacturing in a high volume, rapid environment in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware manufacturing industries
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple work centers in a high-mix, low-volume development or quick-turn environment
• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
• Must be comfortable spending significant time on the shop floor daily
• Must be able to travel occasionally to suppliers, test facilities, or other company locations

Nice to have

• Demonstrated success leading from the floor in a fast-moving manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with CNC machining, fabrication processes, and interpreting engineering drawings, including GD&T
• Experience with CMM and dimensional inspection
• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality systems, NCRs, and FAI (AS9102)
• Experience with MES/ERP systems
• Background in capacity modeling, shop layout, and capital equipment justification
• Track record of making fast decisions with incomplete information and owning the outcome
• Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Medical/dental/vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Many other perks

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license

About the company

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown. They are mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.