Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Operations

Terran Orbital•Irvine, CA 92612, US• Full Time

Posted 2 hours ago• Manufacturing• Manufacturing

Compensation

$170,000–$220,000/year

Job Description

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Operations to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Manufacturing Operations, the Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Operations will own the strategic capacity planning, throughput optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives that will power our manufacturing growth. You’ll partner closely with Engineering, ME, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain to translate cutting-edge designs into efficient, scalable, high-yield production systems. If you excel at turning complexity into structure, driving operational excellence, and leading cross-functional teams toward measurable impact, this role gives you the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a rapidly scaling operation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Capacity Planning and Modeling
- Develop and implement end-to-end capacity and resource models across manufacturing (CMG and AIT)
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering (ME), Production, and Planning to define labor standards, cycle times, and constraints
- Identify bottlenecks and develop actionable plans to improve throughput and resource utilization
- Establish and maintain a rough-cut and detailed capacity planning process aligned with SIOP
- Drive scenario modeling to support demand variability, ramp plans, and NPI
Continuous Improvement (CI) & 6S
- Lead and facilitate Kaizen events focused on yield improvement, cycle time reduction, and waste elimination
- Implement and sustain 6S standards across manufacturing areas
- Develop structured problem-solving capabilities (RCA)
- Drive NCR trend analysis and systematic corrective actions in partnership with Quality and Engineering
- Establish KPIs and visual management systems to track operational performance
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead cross-functional initiatives involving Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production
- Act as a bridge between engineering and operations to ensure manufacturability and execution alignment
- Drive accountability and execution discipline across teams
- Facilitate regular operational reviews
Operational Execution & Scaling
- Support production ramp and scaling activities, including balancing and resource alignment
- Contribute to plant layout optimization and potential facility expansion or relocation efforts
- Develop standard work and operating rhythms for production environments
- Support the development of SIOP processes and planning integration

Required Qualifications and Skills

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations/Supply Chain Management, or related field
8+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, with increasing responsibility
Proven experience developing capacity models and resource planning framework
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional operational initiatives
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset
Experience working directly with production teams and manufacturing engineering
Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and drive structure
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments (aerospace/defense preferred)
Hands-on experience leading Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives
Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and 6S implementation
Experience with yield improvement root cause corrective action methodologies
Prior involvement in production ramp, scale-up, or facility/plant relocation
Experience implementing or supporting SIOP processes
Background in organizations transitioning from R&D to production
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and implementation

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!

Salary Range

$170,000—$220,000 USD

Full-time positions only:

Benefits

100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
401(k) Match
Flexible Time Off (FTO)
Education Reimbursement
Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.