Project Manager, Manufacturing & Strategic Initiatives
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Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.
CesiumAstro is seeking a Project Manager, Manufacturing & Strategic Initiatives to lead manufacturing activation, equipment commissioning, production readiness, and operational ramp activities across the company’s expanding manufacturing footprint.
This is a hands-on execution role for someone who understands what it takes to operate a production environment. Strong candidates may come from production, operations, maintenance, manufacturing engineering, or technical project leadership within aerospace, defense, technology hardware, semiconductor, automotive, aseptic manufacturing, high-volume production, or another complex technical industry.
The Project Manager will translate manufacturing objectives into detailed execution plans and coordinate the people, equipment, facilities, vendors, and operating systems required to bring new production capabilities online. The initial focus will include developing the manufacturing activation plan through March 2027, followed by leading equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, and production ramp activities over the subsequent 12 months.
This position must be equally comfortable developing an integrated schedule, working directly with engineers and equipment vendors, resolving issues on the production floor, and communicating risks and recommendations to executive leadership. This is not a desk-only project management role. The successful candidate will take ownership, work through operational details, and act when execution challenges arise.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and manage the integrated manufacturing activation plan, including facility readiness, equipment delivery, installation, commissioning, qualification, and production ramp.
- Translate long-range manufacturing objectives with Engineering, into detailed workplans, milestones, dependencies, ownership assignments, and readiness criteria.
- Lead the transition from facility construction and infrastructure delivery into an operational manufacturing environment.
- Coordinate equipment installation, utility connections, rigging, site acceptance, commissioning, and production handover.
- Work with Quality, Production and Engineering to develop production ramp plans covering first article, process stabilization, throughput improvement, and achievement of planned production rates.
- Ensure tooling, materials, maintenance support, work instructions, quality controls, safety requirements, and operator training are ready to support production.
- Maintain a regular presence on the manufacturing floor during installation, commissioning, and ramp activities.
- Work directly with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, facilities, and equipment vendors to identify and resolve execution issues.
- Take practical action to maintain progress when equipment, process, material, staffing, or infrastructure problems arise.
- Support equipment placement, installation, troubleshooting, testing, and operational readiness activities in accordance with company safety requirements.
- Coordinate the safe use and movement of equipment, tooling, materials, and production assets.
- Support Engineering during equipment integration, process development, first-article builds, and transition into repeatable production.
- Serve as a primary operational interface with equipment manufacturers, integrators, rigging providers, contractors, and technical consultants.
- Coordinate vendor schedules, site requirements, installation activities, acceptance testing, training, documentation, warranties, spare parts, and service support.
- Confirm that equipment requirements are incorporated into facility, utility, layout, safety, and production planning.
- Hold internal and external partners accountable for commitments while maintaining productive working relationships.
- Build strong working relationships across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Facilities, Operations, Finance, and executive leadership.
- Understand the requirements of internal customers and convert those requirements into executable operational plans.
- Navigate competing priorities while maintaining alignment around company-level manufacturing objectives.
- Communicate effectively with production personnel, technical specialists, equipment vendors, functional leaders, and executives.
- Lead through influence, credibility, accountability, and practical manufacturing experience.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Industrial Technology, Business, another relevant field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in manufacturing, production, operations, maintenance, engineering, project management, program management, or another complex technical operating environment.
- Experience activating a greenfield facility, expanding a factory, or launching a new production line
- Practical experience working in or directly supporting an active production operation.
- Hands-on experience installing, commissioning, qualifying, troubleshooting, and bringing manufacturing equipment to planned production rates.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing utilities, equipment maintenance, material flow, safety systems, production controls, and operator training.
- Willingness and ability to work in active manufacturing environments and participate directly in installation, commissioning, and production-readiness activities while following applicable safety, training, and authorization requirements.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience as either a manufacturing leader or a highly accountable individual contributor with direct responsibility for production performance.
- Experience in aerospace, defense, technology hardware, semiconductor, automotive, aseptic manufacturing, high-volume production, or another high-reliability technical industry.
- Hands-on experience installing, commissioning, qualifying, troubleshooting, and bringing manufacturing equipment to planned production rates.
- Experience coordinating equipment manufacturers, systems integrators, rigging providers, contractors, and other technical vendors.
- Experience supporting new-product introduction, process development, first-article builds, or the transition of engineering designs into repeatable production.
- Experience activating a greenfield facility, expanding a factory, or launching a new production line.
- Experience safely using common hand and power tools in an industrial environment.
- Forklift or material-handling equipment experience, certification, or ability to obtain required certification.
- Experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, production KPIs, or data-driven problem solving.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams, schedules, risks, and operational dependencies.
- Demonstrated ability to develop detailed execution plans and maintain progress under changing priorities.
- Strong interpersonal, stakeholder-management, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to understand internal customer requirements and build productive relationships across technical and operational teams.
CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.
CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.
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- As a result of the work performed by CesiumAstro, all eligible candidates must be a U.S. Person or able to obtain an export license. U.S. Persons include U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, conditional residents, asylees, and refugees. Are you a U.S. Person or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State?
- Do you now or will you in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status? Please select "Yes" if you will require the Company to commence ("sponsor") an immigration or work permit case in order to employ you, either now or at some point in the future. Otherwise select "No".
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- By submitting your application you hereby certify that the facts set forth in the above employment application are true and complete to the best of your knowledge. I certify that the information on this application is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and agree to have any of the information verified by CesiumAstro (the “Company”). By my signature below, I authorize any references submitted by me to the Company in support of this application to provide any and all information concerning my previous employment and any other pertinent information that they may have. I understand that I may be required to authorize the Company to obtain a consumer report or investigative consumer report, in accordance with applicable law, which authorization is contained in a separate document. Further, I release the Company and any other parties, agents, or persons from any and all liability or claims arising out of the disclosure or use of references or other information provided to the Company during the process of verifying the statements made in this application. I understand that any misrepresentation, falsification, or material omission of information on this application may result in my failure to receive an offer or, if I am hired, will result in my dismissal from employment. Furthermore, if hired, in consideration of my employment I agree to conform to the policies, rules and standards of the Company, including applicable safety rules, and agree that my employment can be terminated “at will” at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, either at my option or at the option of the Company. I understand that no employee or representative of the Company to which I am applying, has the authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time, or to enter into any express or implied agreement to the contrary of at-will employment, except for a written agreement signed by me and the Chief Executive Office of the Company. I agree that this shall constitute a final and fully binding integrated agreement regarding the at-will nature of my employment relationship if I am hired. In addition, I understand that, if hired, I may be required as a condition of employment to take and pass drug and alcohol tests during employment to the extent required by policies of the Company consistent with applicable law. I acknowledge that I have personally completed this application, I have read all of the above statements, and understand them and agree to the terms and conditions therein. I confirm that I understand that my application may be subject to security checks under government regulations applicable in the aerospace and defense industry sectors. optional
- I have applied for employment with CesiumAstro, Inc. (the “Company”). In consideration of the Company's accepting and evaluating my application for employment, I hereby agree that I will comply with and be legally bound by the following terms and condition of this Agreement: 1. MAINTAINING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF COMPANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. I understand that CesiumAstro, Inc. is an innovative company engaged in research and development, and that the Company's innovations and other Proprietary Information (as defined below) provide the Company with a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Accordingly, I agree to hold in strictest confidence, and not to disclose or make any use of at any time, any of the Company’s Proprietary Information which I may acquire or learn during my interview(s) or the application process for employment. The term “Proprietary Information” shall mean any and all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or any other proprietary information pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its customers, vendors, consultants, licensees or affiliates. 2. MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OF FORMER EMPLOYERS OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED BY ME PRIOR TO MY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. I represent and agree that I will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence any third-party proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my application for employment with the Company. I will not improperly use, disclose or bring to the Company, or induce the Company to use, any confidential or proprietary information, documents or materials belonging to any previous employer or third parties. 3. NEW EMPLOYEE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTION AGREEMENT. I understand that if I am offered employment by the Company, and as a condition of my new employment, I will be required to enter into an attached New Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement. Prior to any future employment with the Company, I acknowledge the opportunity to consult with legal counsel or other necessary advisors regarding the Agreement. optional