Head of Manufacturing

Job description

Why LeoLabs? At LeoLabs, we're building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions. We're not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations. If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here. LeoLabs is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead the next phase of production scaling of our radar systems. This leader will own the manufacturing strategy, industrialization roadmap, quality management, facility scaling, and cross-functional execution required to increase production capacity beyond 10x. This role may be leveled as Senior Director or Vice President level based on the successful candidate’s experience, leadership scope and demonstrated ability to own the function. The role with report directly to the SVP, Radars. This role is a full-time, in-person position based at our headquarters in Menlo Park, CA. Regular domestic travel is expected. The Head of Manufacturing will turn LeoLabs’ advanced radar designs from low/medium-rate initial production into repeatable, scalable, high-rate production systems. You will collaborate with and leverage support from Product, Supply Chain, Radar Systems and Hardware Engineering, Program Management, Finance and Accounting, and executive leadership to build the manufacturing capacity that enables LeoLabs to deploy radar systems more reliably and at greater scale for the U.S. Government, allies, and commercial customers. The preferred candidate has done this before – they are a leader who has built and sustained a manufacturing system, rather than someone who has only managed an existing operation. This candidate is a hands-on manufacturing executive or emerging executive from a high-performance production environment such as aerospace, defense technology, automotive, or other complex hardware industries. They have scaled production systems from the ground up, built functional teams, improved quality, stood up facilities or production lines, and operated with urgency in environments where reliability, repeatability, and mission success matter. Key Responsibilities Manufacturing Strategy & Scale Own LeoLabs’ high-rate manufacturing and industrialization strategy for radar systems, subsystems, and associated high-reliability hardware across manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test operations. Build and scale a production system and team capable of supporting 10x growth in radar production over the next 2 years while maintaining high standards for quality, reliability, integration, and deployment readiness. Define the operating model across internal manufacturing, external suppliers, contract manufacturing, and integration partners. Own the high-rate production footprint plan including facility needs, equipment, tooling, staffing, and capital investment. Stand up scalable production lines, work cells, fixtures, test stations, documentation, and acceptance processes for radar hardware, RF systems, electronics, electromechanical assemblies, power systems, compute infrastructure, and system-level integration. Establish the scaled manufacturing steady state including production planning, throughput management, capacity planning, cost analysis, quality, and delivery execution. Industrialization Own the transition from engineering builds to production-ready designs. Establish and mature release and readiness gates, first-article processes, and build documentation. Partner with Radar Systems and Hardware Engineering teams to industrialize new radar designs, ensuring manufacturability, testability, serviceability, configuration control, and production readiness. Partner with engineering NPI manufacturing team to improve manufacturability, DfX, and cost reduction opportunities. Ensure new radar products have validated build plans, test procedures, tooling, factory acceptance testing criteria, and supplier plans before production ramp. Create a functioning feedback system from manufacturing and sustainment back into product and engineering. Quality, Reliability & Production Build and mature the quality management system required for high-reliability radar systems serving mission-critical customers. Establish clear standards for configuration control, traceability, inspection, nonconformance management, corrective action, supplier quality, and production acceptance. Drive measurable improvements in yield, first-pass quality, rework, scrap, field defects, and schedule performance. Build strong review mechanisms for failures, escapes, production risks, and systemic issues. Partner with Technical Program Management to align production readiness and execution with program, contract, customer, and deployment commitments Partner with Supply Chain on supplier readiness, long-lead planning, cost reduction, and risk mitigation. Partner with the Radar Operations Center and Global Infrastructure to turn field performance and maintenance data into product and process improvements to increase performance, reduce operational impacts, and decrease maintenance costs. Develop manufacturing KPIs and high-level dashboards for throughput, schedule metrics, yield, labor tracking, cost, quality, rework, scrap, supplier performance, and field reliability. Team Leadership Establish and lead the LeoLabs Production System, creating a common operating model for safety, quality, delivery, cost and people. Implement tiered daily management, visual controls, standard work, structured problem solving, leader standard work, production flow, capacity management and continuous improvement. Recruit, develop, and lead a world-class manufacturing organization including manufacturing operations, production, test operations, quality, facilities, and related functions. Set clear ownership and metrics across the manufacturing organization. Build a culture of execution, urgency, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Required Qualifications 15+ years of experience in manufacturing, production operations, industrialization, factory operations, manufacturing engineering, or related operational leadership roles. Demonstrated experience implementing and leading a mature Lean manufacturing or production operating system, such as the Toyota Production System, including standard work, visual management, daily accountability, structured problem solving, flow, built-in quality, waste reduction and continuous improvement. Demonstrated experience scaling production capacity, standing up production lines or facilities, and improving throughput, quality, cost, and delivery performance. Experience manufacturing complex, high-reliability hardware in industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, advanced electronics, robotics, industrial automation, energy systems, RF systems, communications, space systems, or mission-critical infrastructure. Experience with quality management systems and standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, IPC standards, ESD controls, supplier quality, first-article inspection Strong technical fluency with hardware product development, NPI, configuration control, test operations, production readiness, and root-cause corrective action. Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills. Eligibility to obtain and maintain required U.S. security clearances, as applicable to this role. Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, industrial engineering, supply chain, business, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience. Preferred Qualifications Formal training or demonstrated practitioner experience in Toyota Production System, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma or an equivalent operating system. Black Belt, Master Black Belt, TPS practitioner/trainer or comparable credentials preferred. Experience developing greenfield or brownfield production facilities, production lines, integration sites, or manufacturing cells. Experience with radar, RF systems, antennas, communications systems, sensors, satellites, ground systems, aerospace systems, or other complex electromechanical products. Experience supporting Department of War, Space Force, NASA, or allied government customers. Experience working with classified, export-controlled, ITAR/EAR-controlled, or otherwise sensitive hardware programs. Master’s degree in engineering, operations, business administration, manufacturing, supply chain, or a related discipline. Compensation This position is benchmarked to San Francisco Bay Area with a base salary range of $225,000 - $248,000, plus bonus, equity, and benefits. Compensation Note: The salary range for this position is benchmarked based on the designated primary work location for the role. Final compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s work location, applicable market data, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Perks and Benefits Global workforce: flexible remote/hybrid opportunities Work on complex, meaningful missions with real-world impact Unlimited paid time off for most roles Competitive salary and equity packages Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage Access to the forefront of commercial space operations and defense innovation ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC's website.