Head of Manufacturing & Industrialization

About Valstad Valstad is building a new manufacturing platform for rapidly producing large, complex steel structures using robotics, automation and software. Our initial systems combine robotic material handling, automated fit-up, welding, sensing and manufacturing-planning software to produce ship panels and related structures directly from engineering data. Our broader mission is to dramatically increase the speed and capacity of American shipbuilding and heavy industrial production. We are moving from proving the underlying technology to building a repeatable production system capable of reliably delivering commercial, marine and defense structures. The Role Valstad is seeking a Head of Manufacturing & Industrialization to build and lead our manufacturing operation in Austin. This is not a role for someone who expects to inherit a mature factory, stable processes and a large support organization. You will help design the production system itself, establish the operating discipline around it and take direct responsibility for turning robotic manufacturing capabilities into reliable customer output. You will own production performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost and throughput. You will also serve as the primary bridge between engineering development and day-to-day manufacturing. The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing-engineering fundamentals with direct operating experience. You should be comfortable moving between production planning, fixture reviews, quality problems, equipment downtime, operator development and long-term capacity planning, often in the same day. What You Will Own Production operations Own daily and weekly production performance, including safety, quality, schedule, cost and throughput. Establish production planning, job sequencing, material-staging and shipment processes. Build a clear operating cadence using daily production reviews, visual management and measurable performance indicators. Create the systems required to deliver customer parts predictably and communicate risks early. Develop staffing, shift and capacity plans as production volume increases. Recruit and lead manufacturing engineers, supervisors, technicians, welders, fitters and quality personnel. Manufacturing industrialization Convert new robotic and manufacturing capabilities from engineering demonstrations into stable production processes. Establish production-readiness criteria and formal handoffs between engineering and manufacturing. Develop routings, work instructions, control plans, standard work and production documentation. Lead cycle-time reduction, line balancing, bottleneck analysis and process-capability improvement. Improve material flow, workholding, tooling, ergonomics and operator interaction with automated systems. Determine where additional automation creates value and where simpler manual processes are preferable. Develop the operating model required to scale from individual robotic cells to multiple production lines. Quality and process control Build the initial manufacturing quality system in partnership with the Welding Engineer and customer-quality stakeholders. Establish inspection points, acceptance criteria, nonconformance processes and corrective-action systems. Ensure traceability of materials, welding procedures, inspection results and production records. Develop first-pass yield, rework, dimensional accuracy and process-capability metrics. Support qualification for increasingly demanding commercial, marine and defense work. Ensure that production pressure never overrides safety, quality or configuration control. Equipment and reliability Own manufacturing equipment availability and overall equipment effectiveness. Establish preventive-maintenance, calibration, spare-parts and equipment-recovery processes. Work with robotics, controls and mechanical engineers to improve cell reliability and maintainability. Define escalation paths for production faults and ensure that recurring problems receive permanent corrective action. Participate directly in commissioning, debugging and production ramp-up of new robotic equipment. Cost and capacity Develop credible cost-per-part, cost-per-ton and labor-hour models. Track actual production performance against estimates and use the results to improve quoting and planning. Build capacity models covering equipment, labor, material, floor space and working capital. Support make-versus-buy decisions and the selection of critical suppliers and subcontractors. Partner with the commercial team to evaluate customer requirements, schedules and production feasibility before commitments are made. Safety and team development Build a strong safety culture appropriate for robotic welding, heavy steel handling, cranes and industrial equipment. Establish training, qualification and authorization requirements for production personnel. Create an environment where operators and technicians identify problems, contribute improvements and stop work when conditions are unsafe. Develop future manufacturing leaders as the organization grows. Initial Priorities First 30 days Learn the current robotic manufacturing process from engineering data through shipment. Assess current production capability, staffing, tooling, material flow, quality controls and equipment reliability. Establish a baseline for cycle time, labor hours, uptime, rework and throughput. Identify the most immediate constraints to reliable customer delivery. Define clear ownership and escalation paths across manufacturing and engineering. First 90 days Implement a daily and weekly production-management cadence. Establish production schedules, work instructions and basic manufacturing metrics. Create a production-readiness and engineering-handoff process. Build an initial quality-control and nonconformance system with the Welding Engineer. Develop a prioritized plan for tooling, fixtures, maintenance and material-flow improvements. Produce a staffing and capacity plan for the following 12 months. First six months Demonstrate repeatable delivery of customer parts against schedule and quality requirements. Reduce avoidable downtime, manual intervention and rework. Establish credible production cost and capacity models. Recruit and develop the first layer of manufacturing personnel beneath the role. Improve throughput without relying on uncontrolled process changes or excessive engineering support. Create a repeatable launch process for new part families and customer programs. First year Build a production organization capable of operating multiple customer programs. Establish measurable improvements in throughput, first-pass yield, equipment availability and labor productivity. Transition routine production execution away from dependence on the founding and engineering teams. Create the operating foundation for additional manufacturing lines and eventual customer-site deployments. Required Experience Ten or more years of experience in manufacturing, industrialization, manufacturing engineering or production operations. Experience launching or scaling a new production line, factory or major manufacturing process. Direct ownership of production outcomes across safety, quality, delivery and cost. Strong understanding of manufacturing engineering, production systems, process control and continuous improvement. Experience working with automated equipment, industrial robotics or highly integrated manufacturing systems. Experience managing both technical personnel and hourly production teams. Demonstrated ability to operate effectively when equipment and processes are still evolving. Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to work directly on the production floor. Experience using production data to identify constraints and drive measurable improvements. Ability to communicate clearly with operators, engineers, executives, customers and suppliers. Particularly Relevant Backgrounds Experience in one or more of the following would be especially valuable: Heavy steel fabrication Shipbuilding or marine manufacturing Structural welding Aerospace structures Automotive body-in-white Robotic welding and material handling Defense manufacturing Large industrial assemblies High-mix, low-volume production Factory or production-line launches Manufacturing-as-a-service Shipbuilding experience is useful but not mandatory. We care more about demonstrated ability to learn complex processes, build production systems and deliver results in an evolving environment. Preferred Qualifications Degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering or a related discipline. Experience with welded structures and welding-quality systems. Familiarity with AWS, ABS, NAVSEA or other regulated manufacturing requirements. Experience with dimensional inspection, metrology and configuration control. Experience introducing MES, ERP, digital work instructions or production-data systems. Lean, Six Sigma or similar training, provided it is backed by direct operating experience. Experience in an early-stage company or new manufacturing operation. What Success Looks Like Success in this role means that Valstad can move from demonstrating impressive robotic capabilities to operating a disciplined manufacturing system. Customer parts are delivered when promised. Quality requirements are understood and consistently met. Production performance is visible and measurable. Engineering changes enter production in a controlled manner. Operators have clear instructions and escalation paths. Recurring failures are permanently resolved. Capacity and cost estimates are increasingly reliable. Most importantly, the production organization becomes capable of scaling without requiring the CEO or engineering team to personally coordinate every job. Compensation The anticipated base-salary range for this position is $170,000 to $195,000 , depending on experience and scope. The role also includes: Target annual performance bonus of approximately 10% to 15% Meaningful early-stage equity ownership Medical, dental and vision benefits Paid time off Relocation assistance where appropriate Valstad is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate candidates based on their ability, experience and potential to contribute to the company’s mission.