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Astro Mechanica · 3 months ago

Head of Build

San Francisco

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$200K/yr - $250K/yr

10+ years exp

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company focused on democratizing high-speed flight. The Head of Build will lead the build function, establishing a world-class prototyping and manufacturing environment while overseeing the operation of advanced manufacturing technologies and fostering a culture of technical excellence.

AerospaceManufacturingMechanical Engineering

Responsibilities

Lead the build function at Astro Mechanica, establishing a world-class prototyping and manufacturing environment tailored to high-mix, low-volume aerospace systems

Own the planning, setup, and scaling of our machine shop, fabrication, and related capabilities as the company grows, ensuring safety, efficiency, and capability expansion

Use expertise from a wide range of manufacturing experience to determine which processes are most appropriate to solve a given design challenge

Stay current on the latest developments in novel manufacturing techniques in order to bring new possible solutions to Astro Mechanica’s design efforts

Oversee the operation and integration of advanced manufacturing technologies—including 5-axis CNC milling, multi-axis turning, and additive manufacturing

Partner closely with design, test, and engineering teams to ensure rapid iteration, manufacturability, and seamless integration between design intent and physical build

Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of technicians and machinists, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement

Develop robust processes for quality, traceability, and throughput without compromising the speed and flexibility required in early-stage prototyping

Serve as the company’s technical authority on build strategy, ensuring Astro Mechanica stays ahead in manufacturing capabilities as we evolve our propulsion systems and aircraft

Qualification

5-axis CNC millingMulti-axis turningAdditive manufacturingHigh-mix low-volume manufacturingManufacturing process expertiseFacility designTeam leadershipContinuous improvementCollaboration skillsProblem-solving

Required

10+ years of experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing and prototyping, particularly within aerospace, defense, or similarly complex, precision-driven industries

Hands-on expertise with core tools and systems we use today—5-axis mill CNC, multi-axis turning, and additive manufacturing—as well as demonstrated ability to rapidly learn and implement new manufacturing techniques and platforms

Thoughtful management skills and the ability to lead a growing technical team

Proven leadership in shop setup and scaling, including facility design, equipment selection, workflow design, and team growth

Strong technical foundation in machining, fabrication, metrology, and advanced manufacturing methods, with a track record of delivering on ambitious build timelines

Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work across design, engineering, and test teams to translate complex requirements into manufacturable hardware

Ambition to work in a fast-paced environment