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Director of Manufacturing

Location: Moriarty, New Mexico
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Who Are We:

Sceye is a high-growth technology company, building the next generation of instant communications, imaging and remote sensing infrastructure through stratospheric platforms.

Our lighter-than-air high-altitude platform systems (LTA HAPS) are capable of maintaining position over an operational area in the stratosphere (altitudes of 18 – 21km). They can carry multiple telecommunications, imaging and remote sensing payloads, providing unique functionality, cost, environmental and societal advantages.

Our customers & partners include some of the largest global telecommunications companies, infrastructure operators, climate researchers, civil and defense agencies. 

At Sceye, we aim high, and we want you to join us at the stratospheric edge of innovation. As part of our mission-driven team, you’ll contribute to building breakthrough technologies that are changing the way we connect and observe the world. We are looking for individuals who bring not only deep expertise but also bold vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Position Summary:

The Director of Manufacturing provides strategic and operational leadership for Sceye’s manufacturing organization, with responsibility for three core manufacturing areas: Machine Shop, Composites Manufacturing, and Soft Structures Manufacturing.

This role oversees the leaders responsible for each manufacturing area, including the Lead Machinist, Carbon Composite Production Manager, and Sr. Soft Structures Lead, and is responsible for establishing the manufacturing processes, systems, standards, resources, and accountability necessary to support Sceye’s current operations and future growth.

Working closely with Design, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Flight Operations, and other cross-functional teams, the Director will ensure designs are manufacturable and manufacturing activities across all three areas are safe, efficient, high quality, and aligned with Sceye’s production, testing, and flight objectives.

What You’ll Do:

Manufacturing Leadership & Operations

• Provide overall leadership and direction for Sceye’s manufacturing organization, including the Machine Shop, Composites Manufacturing, and Soft Structures Manufacturing.
• Develop and execute manufacturing plans and priorities in support of company, engineering, testing, and flight objectives.
• Provide leadership and oversight to the Lead Machinist, Carbon Composite Production Manager, and Sr. Soft Structures Lead.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, staffing requirements, and resource needs across all three manufacturing areas.
• Oversee manufacturing operations to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and in accordance with established requirements.
• Develop production schedules, capacity plans, and resource allocations based on company priorities and manufacturing needs.
• Ensure manufacturing teams have the tools, equipment, materials, training, documentation, and support necessary to successfully perform their work.

Manufacturing Area Oversight

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight across Sceye’s three core manufacturing areas: Machine Shop, Composites Manufacturing, and Soft Structures Manufacturing.
• Partner with the Lead Machinist, Carbon Composite Production Manager, and Sr. Soft Structures Lead to ensure each area meets production schedules, engineering requirements, quality standards, and company priorities.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of manufacturing methods, tooling, equipment, workflows, documentation, and process controls across all three areas.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, capacity, quality, consistency, and overall production performance.
• Partner with Design, Engineering, and Quality to resolve manufacturing issues, improve manufacturability, and support the transition of new designs, components, and processes into production.

Manufacturing Process & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain manufacturing SOPs, work instructions, production travelers, and other manufacturing documentation across all manufacturing areas.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing processes that support consistency, traceability, quality, and production efficiency.
• Lead initiatives to improve productivity, workflow, cycle time, tooling, equipment utilization, material handling, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Establish and monitor manufacturing metrics, including schedule performance, quality, scrap, rework, throughput, and other relevant KPIs.
• Identify production constraints and manufacturing risks and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Promote continuous-improvement practices, including Lean manufacturing, 5S, root-cause analysis, and other appropriate methodologies.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Partner with Quality to ensure manufacturing operations meet Sceye quality standards, engineering requirements, specifications, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure appropriate traceability of materials, processes, inspections, nonconformances, and completed work.
• Support root-cause investigations and corrective actions related to manufacturing defects, failures, process deviations, and quality concerns.
• Promote strong configuration control and manufacturing discipline throughout production operations.
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure manufacturing activities comply with Sceye environmental, health, and safety requirements.
• Ensure manufacturing equipment, tooling, workspaces, and facilities are maintained appropriately to support safe and effective operations.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Design and Engineering early in the design process to support manufacturability, tooling, production readiness, and successful transition into manufacturing.
• Provide manufacturing input during design reviews, technical planning, prototype builds, and new product introduction activities.
• Work with Supply Chain to identify material, supplier, tooling, and equipment requirements and address potential supply or production risks.
• Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Flight Operations, and other departments to resolve manufacturing challenges and improve overall execution.
• Communicate manufacturing status, risks, capacity constraints, staffing needs, and resource requirements to Executive Leadership.

People Leadership

• Coach and develop manufacturing managers, leads, and technical personnel.
• Build a high-performing manufacturing organization through effective hiring, training, performance management, employee development, and succession planning.
• Partner with Human Resources to identify current and future workforce needs and recruit skilled manufacturing talent.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, craftsmanship, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Establish appropriate roles, responsibilities, and organizational structure as manufacturing operations grow.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline; equivalent significant manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, preferably within aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing, defense, automotive, or another highly technical manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of experience leading manufacturing teams, including managers, supervisors, leads, engineers, and/or technicians.
• Demonstrated experience building, improving, or scaling manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing planning, production scheduling, capacity management, process development, and continuous improvement.
• Experience establishing and maintaining SOPs, work instructions, production documentation, and manufacturing controls.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Design and Engineering and transition designs from development or prototype stages into repeatable manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of quality systems, traceability, configuration control, nonconformance management, and corrective action.
• Strong leadership, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to operate successfully in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities and production requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in aerospace manufacturing.
• Experience overseeing multiple manufacturing disciplines or production areas.
• Experience with machining, composites, and/or soft structures manufacturing.
• Experience in prototype, low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environments.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.

Physical & Work Requirements:

• Ability to work primarily onsite at Sceye’s Moriarty, New Mexico facility.
• Ability to regularly work in manufacturing, production, laboratory, and shop environments.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and comply with applicable safety requirements.