Operation Head - Satellites AIT

Location: GalaxEye HQ, KIADB Aerospace Park, Bengaluru

Reports to: Director – Tech Ops

Team: Leads a 5-10 person ground-floor team directly.

Works closely with: Engineering/Design, Program Management, SCM, Finance, Quality

Employment type: Full-time

Role Summary

The Operations Head will set up and run the processes, systems, and team that turn satellite hardware into flight-ready spacecraft. Youll lead a ground-floor team — an AIT Lead who runs day-to-day floor execution through the AIT Technicians, an Inventory Manager, and the existing Ops & Maintenance staff — and own AIT facility operations, manufacturing execution, budget, and inventory outcomes for the AIT floor. You will start by operationalizing build-to-checkout for GalaxEyes first satellite program, then build the repeatable processes needed to scale toward constellation-rate production — the facility is designed for up to 20 satellites/year and 5 per quarter, and this role is central to getting there.

Key Responsibilities

1. AIT Process & Operations

• Set up and continuously improve SOPs across all AIT areas — NOVA Lab, ESS Lab, Structures Lab, and both clean rooms — covering the full build → qualify → integrate → checkout workflow.
  

• Own facility operational readiness: clean room discipline (ISO 7/ISO 8 protocols, change room, material airlock, dedusting), ESD control, and calibration/uptime of test equipment (vibration shaker, TVAC chamber, data acquisition systems).
  

• Define and maintain the AIT schedule for each satellite/payload, sequencing EM build, environmental qualification, flight-model integration, and checkout, together with the AIT Lead.
  

• Own test readiness reviews and non-conformance management at the programme level; own documentation and traceability (test logs, configuration records, End Item Data Packages).
  

2. Manufacturing Operations

• Own end-to-end manufacturing execution for GalaxEyes satellite programme — starting with single-satellite build cadence and building toward repeatable, constellation-rate production.
  

• Build production planning, workforce allocation, and capacity plans that scale the AIT floor from unit-build to series production.
  

• Partner with Design/Engineering on design-for-manufacture and design-for-test feedback as new satellites or payload variants move into build.
  

• Implement and own quality and safety systems appropriate to a high-reliability manufacturing environment (e.g., AS9100/ISO 9001-aligned processes, lab safety protocols).
  

3. Budget Planning & Cost Management

• Build and own the AIT floors operating budget — equipment procurement, calibration and AMC/maintenance contracts, consumables and materials, tooling and fixtures, training and certification, and facility upkeep.
  

• Prepare budget forecasts and cost projections for each activity area (facility & labs, manufacturing execution, inventory, quality/compliance, team) aligned to the production plan, from single-satellite build through constellation-rate scale-up.
  

• Track actual spend against budget across the AIT floor; identify variances early and flag cost risks to leadership.
  

• Build the cost case and phasing for capacity investments — new equipment, tooling, facility upgrades — as build volume increases.
  

• Own budget inputs and projections for inventory, including procurement spend and carrying costs, in coordination with the Inventory Manager.
  

4. Inventory & Materials Management

• Own inventory outcomes for the AIT floor across both streams — build/flight parts and static test equipment — delivered day-to-day through the Inventory Manager.
  

• Ensure the Inventory Managers rollout of ERP-based tracking and lot/serial traceability for flight parts lands on schedule and holds up under audit.
  

• Set inventory policy direction — stock norms, replenishment rules — as build cadence scales toward multiple satellites; coordinate with SCM/procurement on incoming material planning at the programme level.
  

5. Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the AIT Lead, Inventory Manager, and Ops & Maintenance staff; set the standards the AIT Lead applies to the technician team day-to-day.
  

• Act as the single escalation and coordination point across the ground floor — parts, facility readiness, access — since the AIT Lead does not coordinate Ops & Maintenance staff directly.
  
• Set performance standards and run training/certification programmes (cleanroom discipline, ESD handling, lab safety) across the ground floor.
  

• Build the process, tooling, and automation roadmap needed to move from single-satellite operations to constellation-cadence manufacturing.
  

• Drive continuous-improvement initiatives to reduce AIT cycle time per satellite without compromising quality.
  

• Candidate Profile
• Area
• Requirement
• Education
• Bachelors or Masters degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electronics, Industrial/Production Engineering, or a related field
• Experience

Roughly 8–10 years of overall experience, including significant experience leading manufacturing/production operations through a working lead/supervisor layer (not just individual contributors)

• Domain exposure
• Manufacturing/production operations in aerospace, defence, satellite, or high-reliability electronics; hands-on AIT or cleanroom environment exposure strongly preferred
• Budget & financial planning