Project Manager, Manufacturing & Strategic Initiatives

CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Program Manager — Manufacturing & Strategic Initiatives to lead production readiness, industrialization efforts, and operational capability buildout across the company’s rapidly expanding manufacturing and strategic initiatives portfolio.
This role is responsible for converting new and expanded infrastructure into fully operational manufacturing capability. Responsibilities include manufacturing ramp execution, equipment commissioning, production system integration, throughput scaling, and execution of strategic initiatives that expand CesiumAstro’s operational and industrial capabilities.
The Senior Program Manager will serve as a key operational integrator across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, and executive leadership to ensure new production capabilities come online aligned to schedule, demand, and long-term company strategy.
This role is highly execution-oriented and is focused on ensuring facilities transition rapidly and effectively from infrastructure delivery into stable, scalable production environments. The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing leadership, industrialization experience, and operational systems thinking with the ability to lead complex cross-functional programs.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Develop and manage the integrated manufacturing activation plan, including facility readiness, equipment delivery, installation, commissioning, qualification, and production ramp.

- Translate long-range manufacturing objectives with Engineering, into detailed workplans, milestones, dependencies, ownership assignments, and readiness criteria.

- Lead the transition from facility construction and infrastructure delivery into an operational manufacturing environment.

- Coordinate equipment installation, utility connections, rigging, site acceptance, commissioning, and production handover.

- Work with Quality, Production and Engineering to develop production ramp plans covering first article, process stabilization, throughput improvement, and achievement of planned production rates.

- Ensure tooling, materials, maintenance support, work instructions, quality controls, safety requirements, and operator training are ready to support production.

- Maintain a regular presence on the manufacturing floor during installation, commissioning, and ramp activities.

- Work directly with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, facilities, and equipment vendors to identify and resolve execution issues.

- Take practical action to maintain progress when equipment, process, material, staffing, or infrastructure problems arise.

- Support equipment placement, installation, troubleshooting, testing, and operational readiness activities in accordance with company safety requirements.

- Coordinate the safe use and movement of equipment, tooling, materials, and production assets.

- Support Engineering during equipment integration, process development, first-article builds, and transition into repeatable production.

- Serve as a primary operational interface with equipment manufacturers, integrators, rigging providers, contractors, and technical consultants.

- Coordinate vendor schedules, site requirements, installation activities, acceptance testing, training, documentation, warranties, spare parts, and service support.

- Confirm that equipment requirements are incorporated into facility, utility, layout, safety, and production planning.

- Hold internal and external partners accountable for commitments while maintaining productive working relationships.

- Build strong working relationships across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Facilities, Operations, Finance, and executive leadership.

- Understand the requirements of internal customers and convert those requirements into executable operational plans.

- Navigate competing priorities while maintaining alignment around company-level manufacturing objectives.

- Communicate effectively with production personnel, technical specialists, equipment vendors, functional leaders, and executives.

- Lead through influence, credibility, accountability, and practical manufacturing experience.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Industrial Technology, Business, another relevant field, or equivalent practical experience.

- Minimum of 8 years of experience in manufacturing, production, operations, maintenance, engineering, project management, program management, or another complex technical operating environment.

- Experience activating a greenfield facility, expanding a factory, or launching a new production line

- Practical experience working in or directly supporting an active production operation.

- Hands-on experience installing, commissioning, qualifying, troubleshooting, and bringing manufacturing equipment to planned production rates.

- Working knowledge of manufacturing utilities, equipment maintenance, material flow, safety systems, production controls, and operator training.

- Willingness and ability to work in active manufacturing environments and participate directly in installation, commissioning, and production-readiness activities while following applicable safety, training, and authorization requirements.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

- Experience as either a manufacturing leader or a highly accountable individual contributor with direct responsibility for production performance.

- Experience in aerospace, defense, technology hardware, semiconductor, automotive, aseptic manufacturing, high-volume production, or another high-reliability technical industry.

- Hands-on experience installing, commissioning, qualifying, troubleshooting, and bringing manufacturing equipment to planned production rates.

- Experience coordinating equipment manufacturers, systems integrators, rigging providers, contractors, and other technical vendors.

- Experience supporting new-product introduction, process development, first-article builds, or the transition of engineering designs into repeatable production.

- Experience activating a greenfield facility, expanding a factory, or launching a new production line.

- Experience safely using common hand and power tools in an industrial environment.

- Forklift or material-handling equipment experience, certification, or ability to obtain required certification.

- Experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, production KPIs, or data-driven problem solving.

- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams, schedules, risks, and operational dependencies.

- Demonstrated ability to develop detailed execution plans and maintain progress under changing priorities.

- Strong interpersonal, stakeholder-management, written, and verbal communication skills.

- Ability to understand internal customer requirements and build productive relationships across technical and operational teams.

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.