Industrial Engineer

Stratolaunch accelerates the development of next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through reusable hypersonic flight testing. Our autonomous, air-launched Talon-A vehicles provide access to operationally realistic flight environments at speeds exceeding Mach 5, delivering critical data that helps customers validate system performance and advance technologies toward deployment. Our team brings together expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to solve complex challenges and advance capabilities essential to national security.

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking an Industrial Engineer who will play a key role in supporting manufacturing operations by optimizing processes and improving the efficiency, capacity, quality, and scalability of production operations for our carrier and hypersonic vehicle programs. The ideal candidate will bring strong industrial engineering skills, hands-on experience with aerospace production systems, and a continuous improvement mindset to help drive productivity and quality on the shop floor.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Analyze production processes across machining, electrical harness fabrication, kitting, integration, test, and final assembly.
• Develop and maintain value-stream maps, process flow diagrams, standard work, routing structures, and cycle-time data.
• Establish and monitor takt time, cycle time, lead time, throughput, work-in-process (WIP), queue time, and first-pass yield.
• Conduct capacity modeling to determine production capability by work center, shift, labor skill, machine availability, and demand level.
• Develop production-rate plans and provide recommendations for staffing, shifts, overtime, cross-training, outsourcing, and equipment utilization.
• Plan production area expansions, relocations, new production lines, and equipment installations.
• Support implementation and optimization of MES, ERP, scheduling, electronic work instructions, and manufacturing data-collection systems.
• Lead continuous-improvement efforts using Lean, Kaizen, 5S, visual management, standard work, SMED, Kanban, pull systems, and root-cause analysis.
• Build business cases for production improvements, tooling, automation, equipment purchases, facility changes, and capability expansion.
• Partner with manufacturing engineering, design engineering, quality, supply chain, planning, maintenance, EHS, and program management to resolve operational issues.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting one or more of the following is strongly preferred; CNC machining or machine shop operations, Electrical harness, cable assembly, or electromechanical assembly Production integration, test, and final assembly Low-to-medium-rate, high-mix, or high-reliability manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience improving shop-floor efficiency, production flow, capacity, labor utilization, and manufacturing cost.
• Experience developing staffing plans, capacity models, capital-equipment justifications, and ROI analyses.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Engineering, or a related field.
• Practical, hands-on approach to solving production problems on the shop floor.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, medical-device, automotive, electronics, or other regulated/high-reliability manufacturing environments.

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• This position is located in Mojave, CA
• Travel, as needed, to support the department, travel estimated to be <5%

Level and Compensation

• Level II ($65,900-$116,600): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 2-5 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Sr-level ($96,600-$144,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Staff-level ($123,700-$173,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 8+ years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s) : 

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
• Tuition reimbursement

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles.  The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.  

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers. 

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.  For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law  :

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf