Airframe Manufacturing Lead
ABOUT US:
Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies-which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system-with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.
WHO WE ARE:
We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.
WHO YOU ARE:
A hands-on airframe manufacturing leader with deep expertise in composite structures and bonded assemblies
Comfortable building a manufacturing function from the ground up-facilities, processes, tooling, and teams
A tactical leader who thrives on the shop floor, leading by example and mentoring technicians through complex builds
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
You will own Astro Mechanica’s supersonic plane build. Working with our Director of Manufacturing, you’ll lead a team turning designs into real hardware, making sure parts get built, assemblies come together, and problems get solved efficiently as the airplane takes shape.
Work with senior engineering leadership to stand up Astro Mechanica’s airframe manufacturing function from scratch, including facilities, workflows, tooling concepts, and technician teams
Own day-to-day operations of in-house airframe manufacturing, with a focus on composite structures and assemblies
Work directly with the airframe engineering and design teams to translate designs, analyses, and requirements into executable manufacturing plans
Partner closely with senior engineering leadership to align manufacturing strategy with program goals, schedules, and technical risk reduction
Lead, schedule, and develop composite technicians and fabricators while maintaining a strong hands-on presence on the shop floor
Supervise and coordinate layup, bonding, curing, trimming, assembly, and rework activities to meet aggressive development milestones
Establish and continuously improve work instructions, build sequences, tooling approaches, and process documentation
Ensure safe and effective operation of composite manufacturing equipment including autoclaves, ovens, freezers, layup tools, trimming equipment, and inspection tools
Drive a culture of quality, accountability, and pride in workmanship across the airframe manufacturing team
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
10+ years of experience in high-mix, low-volume composite manufacturing, prototyping, or airframe fabrication, preferably in aerospace or defense
Strong hands-on knowledge of composite materials and processes (prepreg layup, wet layup, bonding, curing, trimming, and repair)
Strong hands-on knowledge of metallic materials and processing
Practical experience working with metallic airframe components and composite-to-metal interfaces
Experience building or scaling manufacturing operations, labs, or shops in a development or flight hardware environment
Proven ability to lead and mentor technicians while staying deeply engaged in the technical details
Ability to work directly from engineering drawings, ply books, CAD models, and evolving build definitions
Familiarity with aerospace quality standards, inspection practices, and documentation for flight and test hardware
Practical, execution-focused leadership style with comfort navigating ambiguity and rapid change
Ambition to build real flight hardware in a fast-moving, high-accountability environment
PERKS & BENEFITS:
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
Flexible work environment
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.
Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.