Your space-enabled career begins here

SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Production Engineering leads the Program and Engineering strategy and execution for all production and manufacturing processes across the organization. This role is responsible for ensuring that program and engineering support for manufacturing is robust, efficient, and aligned with operational and quality goals. This includes leadership of process engineering, manufacturing readiness, tooling, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have deep experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing, with a strong background in Design for Manufacturability (DFM), process development, and cross-functional leadership across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain.

ABOUT US

Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission-critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility. Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement*

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Program Leadership

• Establish department goals, KPIs, and resource plans to meet delivery, quality, cost, and compliance objectives
• Define and execute the production engineering roadmap in support of company objectives for quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.
• Align engineering capabilities and resources with current and future production needs (including ramp-up of new programs).
• Drive standardization, automation, and scalability across production engineering disciplines.

Program & Product Manufacturing Oversight

• Support capture and proposal efforts for new business opportunities, including technical strategy, work breakdown, resource planning, and cost estimation.
• Oversee the design, development, and implementation of production processes, jigs/fixtures, and work instructions.
• Ensure new product introductions (NPIs) are production-ready through proactive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) practices.

Team & People Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, supervisors, directors and technical staff.
• Build a high-performance culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Identify and address skills gaps; ensure training, tools, and development resources are in place.

Risk & Compliance Management

• Identify and mitigate program risks and issues proactively, applying structured risk management processes.
• Ensure compliance with all customers, contractual, export control (ITAR/EAR), and regulatory requirements (e.g., FAA, DoD standards).
• Support internal and external audits, customer reviews, and program milestones (e.g., PDR, CDR, TRR).

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner closely with design engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations to enable smooth and scalable manufacturing transitions.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions related to process and production issues.
• Interface with program management and customers to support technical reviews and production milestones.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce waste, improve yield, and optimize throughput.
• Support capital investment planning for production technology and infrastructure upgrades.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 15+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or high-complexity manufacturing environments
• 7+ years in a senior leadership role managing production/manufacturing engineering teams
• Demonstrated success in leading production readiness, process improvement, and cross-functional integration
• Strong knowledge of aerospace industry standards (AS9100, NADCAP, MIL-STDs, etc.)
• Experience with ERP, PLM, and digital manufacturing systems

• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills
• Deep expertise in DFM/DFA, lean manufacturing, and production ramp-up
• Strong project management and execution discipline
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, regulated, and technically demanding environment
• Defense program experience with DoD requirements or ITAR/EAR compliance
• Hands-on experience in low-rate initial production (LRIP) to full-rate production (FRP) transitions
• Familiarity with composites, machining, additive manufacturing, or advanced assembly processes
• Must be a U.S. citizen, ability to obtain SECRET Clearance

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform servicemember status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.