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Head of AIT

Head of Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT)

Location: California, Los Angeles

Compensation: Competitive base salary + package

Build the Team. Build the Capability. Build the Future.

Our Client is entering an exciting new phase of growth in the United States, establishing a major new 100,000+ sq. ft. satellite manufacturing facility in Los Angeles.

This facility will provide the capability to assemble, integrate and test increasingly sophisticated spacecraft and will become a critical part of Our Client's global manufacturing operations.

But before satellites can roll through the facility, someone needs to help build the capability behind them.

We are looking for an experienced Head of Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) to do exactly that.

This is not an opportunity to inherit an established department.

You will build it.

The Opportunity

As Head of AI&T, you will take responsibility for establishing and leading the Assembly, Integration & Test capability within the new Los Angeles operation.

You'll help determine how spacecraft move through the facility, how they are assembled and integrated, what equipment and infrastructure are required, how cleanroom operations should function and how spacecraft are ultimately tested and prepared for delivery.

You'll also build the team around you.

Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, programme and operations teams, you will create an AI&T organisation capable of supporting the company's ambitious US growth plans.

What You'll Build & Lead

You will:

  • Establish the US AI&T organisation from the ground up, including processes, procedures, workflows and operating standards.
  • Recruit, develop and lead a high-performing team of AI&T engineers and technicians.
  • Define spacecraft assembly, integration and test processes from subsystem through full spacecraft level.
  • Establish cleanroom workflows, tooling, equipment and infrastructure requirements.
  • Lead spacecraft integration activities across mechanical, electrical, avionics, payload and subsystem interfaces.
  • Oversee functional testing and environmental qualification campaigns.
  • Support testing including TVAC, vibration, shock and EMI/EMC.
  • Establish manufacturing and test readiness processes and reviews.
  • Ensure AI&T activities meet programme requirements for quality, schedule, cost and safety.
  • Develop KPIs and operational metrics to measure performance, quality and throughput.
  • Work closely with engineering and programme leadership to identify and mitigate integration and test risks.
  • Coordinate with external suppliers and specialist test partners where required.
  • Drive continuous improvement as spacecraft volumes and complexity increase.
  • Ensure lessons learned from integration and test campaigns are fed back into engineering and manufacturing.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who has spent their career close to the hardware.

You'll understand what it takes to move a spacecraft from individual subsystems through assembly, integration, environmental testing and ultimately flight readiness.

Ideally, you'll bring:

  • 8+ years' experience within spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test or a closely related discipline.
  • Significant experience working within satellite or spacecraft manufacturing.
  • Leadership experience managing AI&T engineers and/or technicians.
  • Experience building, scaling or significantly improving an AI&T capability.
  • Strong understanding of spacecraft assembly and integration processes.
  • Hands-on knowledge of environmental testing, including thermal vacuum and vibration testing.
  • Experience working within cleanroom environments.
  • Understanding of high-reliability aerospace manufacturing and quality requirements.
  • Experience working across engineering, manufacturing, quality and programme organisations.
  • Strong programme, schedule, resource and risk-management capabilities.
  • Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

Many senior AI&T positions involve taking responsibility for an organisation, facility and processes that have existed for decades.

This one doesn't.

You'll join at the point where the decisions being made today will determine how spacecraft are assembled and tested in Los Angeles for years to come.

You'll influence the facility.

You'll select and develop the team.

You'll shape the processes.

You'll establish the culture.

And you'll ultimately see spacecraft move through an AI&T capability you helped create from the ground up.

For someone who has spent years building and testing spacecraft and has always thought, “I know how I'd build this if I had the opportunity” — this could be that opportunity.