Head of Manufacturing
Location
Redwood City, CA
Level
Manager / Director
Department
Energy
Type
Salary
$100,000 - $150,000
Job Description
Posted on:
2026-04-08
Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end manufacturing function: production planning, process development, quality, facilities, and team management.
- Scale balloon production from hundreds to thousands per month while managing cost, quality, and flexibility.
- Drive design-for-manufacturability by collaborating with R&D and engineering teams.
- Lead the manufacturing team, setting goals and fostering a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
- Define and maintain quality systems that adapt to increasing production volumes.
- Develop and manage manufacturing schedules in coordination with flight operations.
- Identify and manage supplier relationships for materials and components.
Job Requirements
- Strong instinct for process formalization appropriate for growth stages.
- Comfort with ambiguity and experience in manufacturing products under active engineering.
- Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
- Hands-on manufacturing engineering skills for diagnosing issues and designing solutions.
- Experience with lightweight structures, composites, or flexible materials is a plus.
- Familiarity with electromechanical assembly and rapid prototyping tools.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
