Director of Industrial Management
OW is transitioning from startup mode into an industrialized space-systems manufacturer, and we’re looking for a Director of Industrial Management to help lead that shift. This role works across all Operations functions — AIT, QA, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities, and Test — to drive alignment, readiness, and execution for near-term deliveries and long-term scaling.
You’ll partner closely with the VP of Operations and functional leaders to build the processes, capacity models, and operational rhythms that support reliable production and prepare the organization for higher throughput. The ideal candidate brings deep aerospace or avionics manufacturing experience, strong cross-functional leadership, and a talent for turning complex operational challenges into clear, executable plans.
If you’re motivated by enabling teams, improving execution, and helping shape the operational backbone of a growing space company, this role offers meaningful impact and room to grow.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic & Transverse Leadership
- Act as the “chief integrator” across OPS (AIT, QA, Facilities, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Eng, Test Eng), ensuring alignment between daily execution and long-term strategic objectives.
- Translate high-level company milestones into OPS strategies, execution roadmaps, and capacity models.
- Anticipate operational bottlenecks, risks, and resource needs before they materialize, designing mitigation strategies proactively.
- Serve as a trusted deputy to the VP of OPS, able to step in as acting lead when needed.
- Execution & Program Management
- Lead and coordinate operations programs, ensuring all functions deliver to cost, schedule, and quality targets.
- Manage the flow of material, tooling, and workforce capacity to support a high-mix, mid-volume production environment.
- Ensure digital manufacturing and data-driven tools are implemented and adopted effectively across the org.
- Drive “OPS readiness reviews” to ensure facilities, people, materials, and processes are prepared ahead of program needs.
- People & Organizational Development
- Directly manage and grow a small cross-functional OPS program team (planner, project engineer, industrial engineer).
- Coach functional leaders in execution discipline, planning rigor, and continuous improvement.
- Build a culture of accountability, autonomy, and systems thinking across the organization.
- Influence without authority across senior engineering, manufacturing, and corporate teams.
- Continuous Improvement & Scalability
- Deploy lean and digital manufacturing initiatives to reduce cycle time and improve quality.
- Standardize OPS processes and governance mechanisms to enable scale-up of production.
- Champion lessons-learned and post-mortem reviews to drive organizational learning.
Experience - Must Haves
- 12–15+ years in Operations/Manufacturing leadership roles in space, aerospace, avionics, or adjacent high-reliability industries.
- Proven experience in mid-volume, high-mix production environments (satellites, avionics systems, or complex electromechanical hardware).
- Strong background in operational management and planning, and crossfunctional operational leadership.
- Demonstrated success influencing and aligning across multiple technical functions without direct authority.
- Track record of building teams and processes capable of scaling from startup mode to industrialized operations.
Skills & Attributes
- Systems thinker with strong ability to zoom in/out (from floor-level detail to strategic planning).
- Exceptional leadership presence: able to coach, challenge, and inspire across functions.
- Strong command of capacity planning, industrial engineering, and material flow.
- Adept at digital tools and modern manufacturing systems (ERP/MRP, PLM, digital data flows).
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Hands on experience in operational crises but able to remain calm, structured, and forward-looking.
Education
- Bachelor’s in Engineering or Operations-related field (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Aerospace).
- Advanced degree (MBA, MSc, or equivalent) preferred.
Orbitworks' mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbital's heritage, Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.
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- Are you open to significant travel (80-100%) to Toulouse, France or Colorado and/or California, US during the onboarding phase (up to 3 months)? choose one · optional
- Are you eligible to work legally in the UAE, or will you require sponsorship? choose one · optional
- The role requires the person to be based in the UAE full time. Do you already live here or are you open to relocation? written answer · optional
- What is your notice period and when would you be available to start? written answer · optional
- Are you an Emirati National choose one · optional
- Do you have Aerospace/Space experience? written answer
- This role requires extensive industrial management experience in space, aerospace, avionics, or adjacent high-reliability industries. How many years have you worked in such an environment and in which industry? written answer
- As this is a director level position we are looking for someone who has hands-on leadership experience in a manufacturing setting. Have you previously managed a team? If so, in what capacity? People/technical, how many people etc. written answer
- This person is going to be responsible for helping us scale our satellite production. Have you previously worked on capacity planning and production scaling? What did you do? written answer
- Have you previously led operational readiness reviews or schedule recovery efforts for critical programs? written answer
- We are looking for someone with expertise in ERP/MRP/PLM/MES systems in a production environment. Are you familiar with all of these? Which have you worked with? written answer