Director of Manufacturing

<div class="content-intro"><p><strong>Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.</strong></p> <p>Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.</p> <p>Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.</p> <p>As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.</p> <p>We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.</p> <p>Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.</p></div><p><strong>About the Role: </strong></p> <p>The Director of Manufacturing is charged to lead the NPI build process, manufacturing engineering and all factory operations reporting directly to the VP of Spacecraft development and MFG. Planet is looking for a well-established process and manufacturing engineer, who’s capable of managing dynamic iterations to lead continuous improvement projects, support new product launches and provide sustaining support of the manufacturing process, advocating for the needs of DFx to the development team ensuring that the products that are designed can be assembled and produced to cost, quality, and schedule standards. This is a leadership position responsible for the ownership and growth of the function.</p> <p>This is a full-time, in-office position based in our Berlin office 5 days per week.</p> <p><strong>Impact You’ll Own:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Build, mentor, manage a high performing team.</li> <li>Design and implement an org structure to align with Planet’s growth trajectory.</li> <li>Own global factory and RD facility location strategy optimizing variables to meet long term business objectives. </li> <li>Provide hands-on support to the manufacturing and test processes, resolving day to day production issues.</li> <li>Manage the scope, schedule and budget for new continuous improvement projects. Drive projects through implementation in manufacturing. </li> <li>Lead the Development and implementation of manufacturing processes by studying product requirements; researching, designing, modifying, and testing manufacturing methods and equipment.</li> <li>Ensure product and process quality by designing test processes and methods; establishing standards for measuring finished product and process capabilities; drive continuous improvement in manufacturing processes and procedures.</li> <li>Design, build and manage the smooth operation of production lines capable of building Planet’s highly versatile line of technology. This includes everything from assembly and build process to factory layout, vendor qualification, and quality management.</li> <li>Provide manufacturing decision-making information by calculating production, labor, and material costs; reviewing production schedules; estimating future requirements.</li> <li>Prepare product and process reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.</li> <li>Maintain product and process tracking database across build cycles.</li> <li>Complete design and development projects by training and guiding technicians and managing day to day operations (includes quality engineers, MFG engineers and technicians).</li> <li>Design experiments to characterize hardware throu ... (truncated, view full listing at source)