VP of Manufacturing & Production
Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!
E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service delivery associated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.
We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.
Join us to design and deploy next-generation, satellite-based radar that delivers persistent, all-weather, day-night sensing at global scale. You’ll build end-to-end capabilities—from waveform design, on-board processing, classification and calibration—for systems on LEO platforms. Working across RF hardware, phased arrays, and advanced DSP, you’ll turn raw echoes into decision-ready products. If you thrive at the intersection of electromagnetics, signal processing, and systems engineering—and want your code and designs to fly—this role is for you.
What you’ll be doing: Production System Ownership
Own the single metric that defines success: 5 spacecraft/day sustained at or below DTC target
Assume full production ownership at MRR — from that point, all production line decisions route through this role
Manage production design changes through the Configuration Control Board (CCB) — ECOs require your concurrence before release
Provide direct accountability for first-pass yield, automation uptime ≥95%, and ATE fault coverage ≥95%
Product Manufacturing Engineering
Lead DFM reviews at PDR and CDR; close all critical and major DFM findings before CDR
Direct process engineering, tooling design, production BOM control, and work instruction development
Lead manufacturing readiness assessment and MRR preparation — present manufacturing readiness evidence to the CTO
Automated Assembly & Test
Design, commission, and operate robotic assembly systems; maintain automation uptime ≥95%
Own ATE design and development — board, subsystem, and spacecraft-level automated test
Achieve ≥95% fault detection to LRU level and ≤0.5% false failure rate
Own Test Program Set (TPS) development, validation, and production test software
Production Line Operations
Manage daily rate at the 5 SC/day target through factory layout optimization and workforce planning
Maintain station utilization balance (60–90% per station) and enforce hold point compliance
Drive headcount growth capped at 20% of volume growth rate
Manufacturing Data & Quality
Implement and operate the MES including work order management, traveler control, and ATE data integration
Monitor SPC, yield trending, and defect pareto analysis
Enforce workmanship standards per IPC-A-610 Class 3; maintain dotted-line to VP, MA&Q for quality system compliance
What you bring to this role: 15+ years of progressive manufacturing and production engineering experience; at least one program carried from factory design through full-rate production at a sustained rate of ≥100 units/week
Direct accountability for production rate, yield, and unit cost on a high-complexity electromechanical or aerospace product at rate — low-rate experience is not a substitute
Demonstrated experience designing, commissioning, and operating robotic assembly systems, ATE, and automated material handling
Direct accountability for ATE design, fault coverage validation, and production test software
Track record of embedding DFM discipline in product design teams during development — not as a production afterthought
Hands-on MES experience including work order management, traveler control, ATE data integration, and as-built genealogy
Demonstrated record of building multi-discipline manufacturing engineering teams including managing embedded engineers
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field — or equivalent verifiable experience
Bonus Points for the Following Experience in aerospace or defense high-rate production (satellites, missiles, avionics, or comparable complex systems)
Direct experience with satellite manufacturing or space hardware production
Familiarity with Design-to-Cost (DTC) methodologies and production cost modeling
Experience with lean manufacturing transformation in a high-complexity environment
Familiarity with digital twin and model-based manufacturing approaches
This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Saratoga office. The target base pay for this position is $120,000 - $200,000 annually. The total compensation packaged will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in-orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow-ed.
This role requires access to controlled technical data. Under U.S. law (ITAR/EAR), we can only consider U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and individuals granted asylum or refugee status).
E-Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.
Why E-Space is right for you:
As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals. In return, we offer a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a high-growth industry.
We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space:
• An opportunity to really make a difference • Sustainability at our core • Fair and honest workplace • Innovative thinking is encouraged • Competitive salaries • Continuous learning and development • Health and wellness care options • Financial solutions for the future • Optional legal services (US only) • Paid holidays • Paid time off