CesiumAstro
Senior Program Manager — Manufacturing & Strategic Initiatives
TLDR
Lead production readiness, industrialization efforts, and operational capability buildout for CesiumAstro’s rapidly expanding manufacturing portfolio while ensuring alignment with strategic objectives
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.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Manufacturing Ramp & Production Readiness
- Lead manufacturing activation efforts across new and expanded sites.
- Drive equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, and production readiness activities.
- Develop and execute production ramp plans from first article through rate production.
- Define manufacturing flows, operational layouts, staffing strategies, and production readiness milestones.
- Ensure manufacturing capability aligns with product roadmap, forecasted demand, and operational objectives.
- Lead industrialization of existing and future manufacturing capabilities.
- Execute strategic initiatives including insourcing efforts, operational expansion programs, and manufacturing capability development.
- Support development of scalable production systems capable of supporting high-rate manufacturing.
- Coordinate strategic operational initiatives tied to international expansion and manufacturing partnerships
- Operate as a senior operational integrator capable of solving multiple simultaneous manufacturing, operational, and strategic execution challenges.
- Rapidly identify bottlenecks impacting production readiness, throughput, staffing, supply chain, commissioning, or manufacturing scale.
- Develop practical execution solutions under aggressive timelines and changing business priorities.
- Navigate ambiguity across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, operations, and strategic initiatives while maintaining forward progress.
- Balance near-term production needs with long-term industrialization and scalability objectives.
- Anticipate operational risks before they materialize and proactively drive mitigation strategies.
- Coordinate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations teams.
- Ensure operational requirements are integrated into facility and infrastructure planning activities.
- Identify and resolve bottlenecks impacting throughput, production readiness, or operational scalability.
- Drive alignment between production systems, manufacturing readiness, and downstream operational requirements.
- Develop and maintain integrated execution schedules, operational readiness plans, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Monitor production readiness metrics, throughput targets, operational KPIs, and ramp performance.
- Provide executive-level reporting on readiness, schedule performance, manufacturing risk, and capability delivery.
- Escalate major operational risks and execution issues with mitigation recommendations
- Support development of repeatable industrialization and manufacturing activation methodologies.
- Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing systems and operational workflows.
- Help establish operational governance structures and readiness standards as the organization scales.
- Mentor future program and operational staff as the team expands.
Industrialization & Strategic Initiatives
Cross-Functional Integration & Operational Problem Solving
Cross-Functional Integration
Program Management & Operational Performance
Continuous Improvement & Scale
- Minimum 12–15 years of experience in manufacturing, industrialization, operations, or program leadership.
- Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field.
- Proven experience leading manufacturing ramp and operational activation efforts.
- Experience scaling production in complex hardware, aerospace, defense, semiconductor, automotive, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.
- Experience managing cross-functional and decentralized teams.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, operational readiness, industrialization, and production scaling.
- Experience developing integrated execution schedules and managing interdependent operational programs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative startup environment.
- Aerospace, defense, semiconductor, automotive, or advanced manufacturing facility experience.
- Experience supporting production or manufacturing ramp environments.
- Experience executing greenfield or large-scale manufacturing expansions.
- Familiarity with industrial utilities, clean environments, or high-reliability production systems.
- Experience with production system design, factory activation, or new line commissioning.
- Experience supporting vertically integrated manufacturing environments.
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.
CesiumAstro develops innovative communication systems that deliver scalable solutions for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other airborne and space platforms. By pushing the boundaries of connectivity, we cater to government and commercial clients focused on enhancing their operational capabilities in air and space.
- Founded
- Founded 2017
- Employees
- 51-200 employees
- Industry
- Diversified Telecommunication Services
- Total raised
- $88M raised
Senior Program Manager