Manufacturing Lead – Space Solar Hardware
Position Details
Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Starlight Solar
Travel: Frequent
About Starpath
Starpath develops and manufactures the technologies that will enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. Today, we are building robotic systems that locally produce the essential commodities a lunar civilization will require at extreme scale: water, power, and oxygen. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars.
The Role
The Starlight team is focused on dramatically improving space solar power to support Starpath’s core mission and the greater space economy. Starlight manufactures the lowest cost and highest performance space solar ever, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath’s equipment on the Moon and Mars.
Responsibilities
Own the full manufacturing chain for Starpath’s solar products, from released design through delivery
Serve as the primary technical interface with key suppliers
Spend significant time on-site with suppliers as needed to support execution, resolve issues, and align teams
Define and maintain manufacturing workflows, work instructions, travelers, and acceptance criteria
Drive manufacturing readiness, including DFM/DFA feedback and process qualification
Ensure alignment between Engineering, Reliability, and manufacturing execution
Lead resolution of manufacturing issues, nonconformances, and delivery risks
Contribute to long-term manufacturing strategy, including future internal capabilities
Required Qualifications
B.S. in Engineering or equivalent practical experience
5+ years experience owning manufacturing execution for hardware products
Demonstrated responsibility for delivery outcomes (schedule, quality, cost)
Experience working closely with external manufacturing partners or suppliers
Willingness and ability to travel frequently and be embedded with suppliers
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to integrate effectively with supplier teams
Sound engineering judgment and comfort making trade decisions under schedule pressure
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware
Prior experience being stationed at supplier sites during critical production phases
Exposure to manufacturing scale-up or industrialization planning
Familiarity with acceptance testing and quality systems (applied, not bureaucratic)
Experience feeding manufacturing lessons back into product design
Compensation & Benefits
Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
Salary base rate is $120-$160k/yr, plus equity package; compensation scales with candidate experience
PTO & health/dental/vision coverage included
EAR REQUIREMENTS:
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity
Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
