Towpreg Manufacturing Lead
About Blackwave
Blackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight-qualified, commercial off-the-shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight-ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas. More information at Blackwave.com and the procurement platform COPV.com .
Role Mission:
The Towpreg Manufacturing Lead will lead the towpreg team in Texas, building and training a team of operators to run the machines. It's important that the lead can learn new, modern machines quickly and is available to identify issues and resolve them independently, escalating the rest to the responsible engineer.
Expected Outcomes A successful Towpreg Manufacturing Lead will:
Support the setup of the first towpreg machine in Texas, with support from our Team Lead and engineers from Germany
Build and lead a team of operators who work with the towpreg machine
Train the team in manufacturing towpreg and instill a quality and measurement mindset in their team members
Provide team members with clear work instructions
Identify opportunities for improvement and implement them together with the assigned engineer
Key Responsibilities
Lead and oversee on-site production operations and workflows
Ensure compliance with production plans, work instructions, and quality requirements
Monitor and improve production performance, efficiency, and output
Identify deviations, root causes, and implement corrective actions
Coordinate closely with engineering, quality, logistics, and operations teams
Ensure proper use, setup, and maintenance of production equipment
Enforce safety, cleanliness, and workplace standards
Train, guide, and support production staff on-site
Contribute to continuous improvement of processes, layouts, and workflows
Support introduction of new processes, materials, or production methods
Competencies Technical Know-How
Able to develop and implement standard operating procedures
Significant experience leading manufacturing teams
Familiar with quality documentation, standards, and industry best practices
Composite experience
Solid understanding of technical systems and concepts
Solid understanding of mechatronics systems
Can work with modern machines (involving computers)
Leadership and Professional Skills
Hands-on leadership approach with strong presence on the shop floor
Structured, reliable, and solution-oriented working style
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage daily operational challenges
Strong communication and coordination skills
Ability to lead by example in an on-site environment
Culture Add and Attitude Hands-on
Flexible to work in a fast-moving environment
Experience leading and developing a team
Willing to independently implement process improvement
Self-starter — does not need constant supervision to perform the role
Team player with strong communication skills
Problem solver
Required Qualifications Education and Experience
Technical education, vocational training, or relevant experience in a manufacturing setting
Prior experience managing and developing a team
Background in aerospace, defense, or electronics manufacturing, or a chemical lab, is a plus
Language Skills
English is required (fluent)
German is a plus
Spanish is a plus
Work Model
On-site work is mandatory, first shift
In August 2026, Blackwave will relocate to a new site in the Port San Antonio aerospace hub
Equal Opportunity Employer
Blackwave Texas Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.
ITAR Requirement
This position requires eligibility under U.S. export regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise authorized to access export-controlled information.
For this U.S.-based role, your application may be managed by our global People Team in Germany.