Principal Industrial Engineer

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.

The Principal Industrial Engineer (Production Systems) is responsible for architecting and scaling the end-to-end production system for satellite manufacturing, including production flow, facility design, capacity modeling, and manufacturing infrastructure. This role defines how products move from design through production and test, ensuring systems are optimized for throughput, quality, and deployment cadence.

Operating at a strategic and system level, this position integrates product architecture, supply chain strategy, and manufacturing operations into a cohesive production model. The Principal Industrial Engineer partners cross-functionally to ensure manufacturing readiness, enabling the transition from development to stable, high-rate production in a high-reliability aerospace environment.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Architect the complete satellite production system, including integration flow, workstation concepts, line segmentation strategy, and production sequencing.

• Develop capacity models, throughput analyses, and resource plans aligned with forecasted deployment cadence.

• Define production system readiness milestones to support transition from development to full-rate production.

• Design facility layouts and production zoning, including cleanroom environments, ESD controls, contamination control, and controlled storage areas.

• Define material flow strategies, logistics pathways, and production adjacencies to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.

• Ensure facility design supports scalability, product integrity, and operational efficiency.

• Manufacturing Infrastructure & Systems Integration

• Define production infrastructure including tooling strategies, MGSE/EGSE ecosystems, and inspection architectures.

• Integrate environmental and functional test capacity into the production system to ensure verification throughput aligns with production needs.

• Establish digital traceability frameworks and manufacturing data systems to support execution, quality tracking, and configuration control.

• Develop a manufacturing concept of operations (CONOPS) aligning product design, supply chain strategy, and production execution.

• Translate engineering designs into scalable, manufacturable production systems.

• Drive alignment between design maturity, supply readiness, and manufacturing execution.

• Lead pilot production efforts to validate production system assumptions, identify constraints, and implement corrective actions.

• Establish standard work, process controls, and production baselines to enable repeatable, high-quality output.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven methodologies to enhance throughput, quality, and efficiency.

• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Facilities to align all elements of production system readiness.

• Influence product design decisions to improve manufacturability, scalability, and testability.

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to industrial and manufacturing engineering teams.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field with 12+ years of experience in industrial or manufacturing engineering within aerospace, defense, or high-reliability hardware environments.

• Demonstrated experience designing and scaling production systems for complex products.

• Experience supporting transition from development to production is required.

• Deep expertise in industrial engineering, production system design, and manufacturing scale-up.

• Strong understanding of aerospace or satellite manufacturing environments, including cleanroom and controlled production.

• Experience integrating test systems (environmental and functional) into production workflows.

• Knowledge of MGSE/EGSE systems and their role in integration and production.

• Strong systems-thinking mindset with the ability to connect product design, manufacturing, and operations.

• Proficiency in capacity modeling, line design, and production optimization methodologies.

• Ability to analyze complex production systems, data models, and engineering documentation.

• Ability to develop and evaluate system-level manufacturing strategies and trade studies.

• Ability to communicate complex concepts effectively across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Ability to travel occasionally to suppliers, manufacturing sites, or test facilities.

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.