Satellite Telecommunications, Aerospace, Wireless Technology

Industrialization Project Leader

Midland, TXOnsiteFull TimePosted 2 months agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

industrialization
manufacturing engineering
process engineering
supplier-facing project work
equipment qualification
process transfer
ramp-up projects
lean manufacturing
Six Sigma
Excel

Nice to have

Aerospace
satellite
automotive
regulated-hardware manufacturing

Role summary

The Industrialization Project Leader is responsible for the day-to-day operational execution of industrialization projects. This role acts as a liaison between global Product and System Engineering, NPI, plant operations, and equipment suppliers. Key responsibilities include driving manufacturing feasibility, managing plant process changes, overseeing supplier-led equipment projects, and applying lean manufacturing methods to achieve production targets. The role also involves managing supplier qualifications, equipment ramp-up, and identifying innovative techniques like automation and digital manufacturing to enhance product competitiveness and reliability. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field or equivalent experience, along with 5+ years of experience in industrialization, manufacturing, or process engineering, is required. Proficiency in data analysis tools and strong communication skills are essential.

AST SpaceMobile and our global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. Called SpaceMobile, this ultra-powerful network is being designed to provide connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet – on land, at sea and in flight.

Role Summary

The Industrialization Project Leader owns the day-to-day operational execution of industrialization projects, acting as the connective tissue between global Product and System Engineering teams, the NPI team, plant operations, and equipment/tooling suppliers. The role drives manufacturing feasibility work, plant process changes, and supplier-led equipment projects, and uses lean manufacturing methods on the floor to hit production rate and quality targets.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Product and System Engineering teams across the globe and with the NPI team, ensuring industrialization needs are represented early in design decisions.

Ensure manufacturing feasibility assessments are properly prepared, documented, and communicated to the relevant stakeholders, flagging risks and constraints before designs are released to production.

Lead communications with the plant team when defining new process protocols and executing changes, ensuring updates are clearly documented, validated, and adopted on the floor.

Lead suppliers on scope of work and industrialization plans, ensuring equipment and process improvements are aligned with AST's requirements for safety, quality, and productivity.

Manage supplier qualifications, equipment build/acceptance, and process ramp-up for outsourcing and technology-transfer projects.

Act as a key team member in identifying new methods and innovative techniques — including automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing solutions — to make AST products more competitive and reliable.

Extensively apply lean manufacturing tools (e.g., value stream mapping, standard work, SMED, line balancing) to set priorities and deliver required production rates and quality targets.

Support capacity modeling, throughput analysis, and factory/line layout design for new and existing production lines.

Drive root cause analysis and structured problem-solving on process, quality, or throughput issues, using data (Excel, Minitab, JMP, or equivalent) to track cycle time, yield, and performance metrics.

Coordinate with Quality and EHS to ensure new equipment and process changes meet applicable safety and quality management standards.

Provide frequent, clear status updates to the Industrialization Manager and cross-functional stakeholders on project timelines, risks, and open actions.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.

5+ years of experience in industrialization, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering, ideally including supplier-facing project work.

Demonstrated experience leading equipment qualification, process transfer, or ramp-up projects with external suppliers.

Working knowledge of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma tools; Green Belt certification (or equivalent) preferred.

Comfortable working with global, cross-functional teams and adjusting to multiple time zones.

Proficiency with data analysis tools (Excel, Minitab, JMP, or equivalent) for performance and quality metrics.

Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate between plant-floor teams, suppliers, and engineering stakeholders.

Willingness to travel to plant and supplier sites as needed.

Aerospace, satellite, automotive or other regulated-hardware manufacturing background (e.g., AS9100 IATF16949 environment) is a plus.

Related / Equivalent Job Titles in Industry

Organizations use varying titles for this scope of work depending on industry and seniority. Common equivalents include:

Industrialization Engineer

Industrialization Project Manager

Manufacturing / Industrial Engineer

Manufacturing Team Leader

Manufacturing & Industrialization Group Leader

Lead Industrialization Engineer

NPI Engineer / NPI Project Engineer

Process Engineer, Industrialization

This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands.

AST SpaceMobile is an Equal Opportunity, at will Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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