Manufacturing Manager

Why LeoLabs?

At LeoLabs, we're building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.

We're not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations.

If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.

The Opportunity

At LeoLabs, the Hardware Engineering Team designs, builds, manufactures, and deploys advanced radar systems that provide persistent orbital intelligence to customers around the world.

As the Manufacturing Manager for Radar Hardware, you will lead and grow the team responsible for turning engineering designs into repeatable production. You will own manufacturing execution across radar hardware builds, including production schedules, manufacturing readiness, DFM, assembly processes, quality execution, and the technical interface with contract manufacturers.

This is a hands-on manufacturing leadership role for someone who can build a strong team, solve technical production problems, and scale how LeoLabs manufactures complex radar hardware. You will work closely with engineering, supply chain, and program leadership to deliver hardware on schedule while improving manufacturing quality, cost, and predictability. This is a full-time, onsite position based in Menlo Park, California.

You will be responsible for:

Lead and grow Radar Hardware’s Manufacturing Team, including manufacturing engineering, production technicians, and hardware quality

Own the detailed manufacturing schedule for radar hardware builds based on program-level delivery dates

Drive manufacturing execution from design release through procurement readiness, kitting, assembly, test support, and delivery

Build manufacturing processes, team structure, and operating rhythms that support multiple hardware programs in parallel

Lead manufacturing readiness reviews and identify risks related to design maturity, BOM completeness, documentation, tooling, suppliers, and build flow

Establish clear manufacturing ownership across DFM, NPI, box build processes, work instructions, fixtures, inspection methods, and CM technical support

Serve as the manufacturing leader for contract manufacturer technical execution, while Supply Chain owns commercial and administrative supplier management

Drive production readiness for PCBAs, cable assemblies, machined parts, structural hardware, and electromechanical assemblies

Support cost modeling, labor planning, build planning, contractor staffing, and manufacturing strategy for current and future radar systems

Build scalable manufacturing systems that improve quality, schedule predictability, yield, and production throughput

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience

7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, production engineering, or hardware manufacturing leadership

Experience leading manufacturing execution for complex electronic or electromechanical hardware

Experience managing or leading manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, technicians, or cross-functional production teams

Strong mechanical manufacturing understanding, including machined parts, sheet metal, structural assemblies, cable assemblies, and box builds

Experience developing production schedules, manufacturing plans, work instructions, assembly documentation, and production readiness processes

Experience working with contract manufacturers as a technical manufacturing interface

Familiarity with Arena or another PLM system, NetSuite or another ERP system, and SolidWorks

Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. personnel security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Strong PCBA manufacturing fluency, including PCB fabrication, SMT assembly, panelization, DFM, IPC workmanship standards, and production test considerations

Experience manufacturing radar, aerospace, defense, robotics, industrial automation, or other high-reliability hardware

Experience scaling hardware production from prototype builds into repeatable low- or medium-volume manufacturing

Experience leading manufacturing readiness reviews, NPI builds, and production release gates

Experience developing cost models, labor models, build plans, and factory capacity plans

Experience with supplier quality, root cause analysis, NCR/CAPA processes, and RMA workflows

Working knowledge of electrical test fixtures, production test strategy, and hardware validation workflows

Experience building manufacturing teams, contractor benches, or technician staffing models in a fast-moving hardware environment

Within 1 month, you’ll:

Complete onboarding and become familiar with LeoLabs’ radar hardware, active programs, manufacturing workflows, and supplier base

Learn the current production schedules, build plans, documentation systems, and contract manufacturer interfaces

Meet the Manufacturing Team and begin taking ownership of team priorities, operating rhythm, and near-term build execution

Within 3 months, you’ll:

Own the detailed manufacturing schedule for active radar hardware builds

Lead manufacturing readiness reviews for upcoming production efforts

Begin improving manufacturing documentation, build planning, CM communication, and production execution

Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths across manufacturing engineering, production, and quality

Within 6 months, you’ll:

Lead the Manufacturing Team through multiple hardware builds from planning through delivery

Drive measurable improvements in build readiness, documentation quality, production flow, and issue resolution

Partner with engineering and supply chain to improve DFM, supplier execution, and manufacturing predictability

Support hardware cost models and manufacturing plans for future radar systems

Within 12 months, you’ll:

Establish Radar Hardware’s Manufacturing Team as a scalable function that can support multiple programs in parallel

Own the manufacturing execution model for radar hardware from design release through delivery

Build durable processes for DFM, manufacturing readiness, production scheduling, quality feedback, and CM technical management

Help LeoLabs scale production of advanced radar systems while improving quality, cost, and schedule performance

Compensation

This position is benchmarked to San Francisco, CA with a base salary range of $191,000–$213,000, plus bonus, and equity. Actual base salary will be determined based on the candidate’s work location, experience, skills, and other applicable factors.

Perks and Benefits

Global workforce: flexible remote/hybrid opportunities

Work on complex, meaningful missions with real-world impact

Unlimited paid time off for most roles

Competitive salary and equity packages

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

Access to the forefront of commercial space operations and defense innovation

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC’s website.

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