Director, Machine Shop

Texas – Relocation Assistance Provided

The Company

Our client’s mission is an end-to-end responsive space company on a mission to make space accessible—launching, landing, and operating anywhere, anytime. With small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles, we support the full lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. By leveraging advanced carbon composite structures, proprietary propulsion technologies, and shared components across our fleet, they accelerate innovation, enhance reliability, and deliver payloads more affordably.

The Job

Our client is looking for a dynamic Leader for their Machine Shop. This would oversee everything from material procurement and day-to-day operations, through long-term machine selections and capacity forecasting to support launch vehicle and spacecraft production vehicles, as well as R&D efforts.

A successful candidate blends their technical capabilities with essential managerial tactics to deliver parts on time. Our client is constantly seeking to improve our quality and on-time delivery performance through error-proofing and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Value Stream Mapping, SMED, Standard Work), new technology (e.g., advanced cutting tools, robust workholding, automation, etc.), and partnering with engineering and quality for robust part producibility and process capabilities.

The Machine Shop runs primarily Mazak mill-turn equipment, DMG Mori 5-axis workcenters, Horizontal Mills, VTLs and EDM including use of FeatureCAM and Veri-cut programming tools.

Functions

• Supervise and mentor a team of manufacturing engineers, programmers, supervisors, machinists and technicians, promote a culture of collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement
• Mature management operating systems, processes and structures that manage the scheduling, planning, and execution of machining operations to meet customer needs / production goals
• Foster a culture of compliance with safety regulations and industry standards
• Mature quality assurance protocols to ensure precision and reliability in manufactured components
• Manage teams as they troubleshoot and resolve machining issues, optimizing processes for efficiency and effectiveness
• Drive preventative and predictive maintenance and repair of machinery and tools to ensure optimal performance in partnership with your production team, equipment maintenance team, and OEMs
• Assess and recommend new technologies and equipment to enhance production capabilities and capacity
• Work closely with engineering, quality and design teams to provide solutions for producibility, process capability, and quality verification at the point of characteristic generation
• Coordinate with supply chain team for materials, inventory management, and sourcing strategies including make/buy strategy for machined parts
• Assist in budget preparation and manage costs associated with factory operations
• Identify and implement opportunities for cost reduction while maintaining quality
• Forecast long-term needs for machine shop personnel, equipment, and tooling
• Forecast long-term equipment, tooling, and capacity needs against technology benefits
• Own long-range planning & capacity planning for the machine shop and chamber manufacturing team
• Perform robust Root Cause Analysis (8D, 5 Why’s, etc.) and rigorous, timely corrective actions focused on error-proofing solutions vs administrative controls
• Work with program operations managers, shop operations manager, planner, supervisors, and ME’s to develop a demand driven production schedule
• Mature tool tracking system and associated purchasing system to minimize tool costs
• Work with Integration, ERP and Supply Chain teams to develop streamlined processes and tools to support high-rate production and rapid-response service
• Produce daily, weekly, and monthly metrics/KPI’s/RAILs relative to Safety, Quality, Equipment utilization, Productivity and Cost
• Mature Tool Control Program, FOD Control Program, Chips recycling

Qualifications

• 10+ years Machine Shop experience
• 2+ years Machine Shop manager experience
• Demonstrated high-quality management experience including 3+ leadership experience
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage projects, and meet tight deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated implementation and incorporation of new technologies on the floor
• Firm understanding of ERP/MRP processes and demand driven planning
• Extensive knowledge in GD&T and associated quality inspection systems
• 5-axis machine operation and experience with Siemens 840D controller operation
• Continuous Improvement/Lean/Six Sigma background

Preferred Skills

• An inquisitive, business-oriented mindset looking to optimize team performance, and implement new cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that help the company in its quest to make the most reliable and cost-efficient launch vehicles and spacecraft
• 5+ years’ experience as a Machine Shop manager
• Experience leading Machine Shop transformations
• Managed/led build out of or implementation of new machine shops
• Experience programming Mazatrol
• Experience using Esprit CAM, NX CAM and FeatureCAM
• Experience with brazing and heat treatment processes
• Experience with metal printing
• Experience with nickel plating
• Experience with alodining, anodizing, and other metallic surface treatment techniques
• Experience with Atlassian program management tools

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with the company is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status