<div><b>The Company:</b></div><div>We’re Solestial, and we are building cutting-edge silicon solar power for space. Our tech is designed to survive the extremes—radiation, vacuum, launch shock—and deliver reliable energy to satellites, lunar missions, and beyond. We are a fast-growing startup backed by strategic, experienced investors in the Space and High Tech sectors, and we’re on a mission to make off-world energy as scalable and dependable as it is here on Earth. </div><div><br></div><div><b>The Role:</b></div><div>We are seeking a strategic and execution-focused <b>Vice President of Operations</b> to lead and continue scaling our manufacturing, supply chain, and production operations. You will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end operations of our space solar manufacturing facility in Tempe, AZ ensuring that systems, processes,</div><div>and people are aligned to deliver efficient and scalable production for commercial and government customers.</div><div>This is a senior leadership role that requires deep expertise in high-precision manufacturing (preferably aerospace or silicon technology), ability to build from the ground-up, and strong cross-functional team leadership and collaboration.</div><br><br><h3>Your Mission:</h3><ul><li><b>High-Volume Manufacturing Leadership: </b>Partner with technology team to continue to scale production from engineering validation and initial production line development to full-rate manufacturing of space-ready solar cells and solar power modules – achieving the company goal of 1 mega-watt per year capacity.</li><li><b>Operational Strategy &amp; Execution: </b>Design and implement manufacturing operations strategies aligned with company growth goals and customer requirements.</li><li><b>ERP System Deployment: </b>Lead the end-to-end implementation of an enterprise ERP system to unify operations, drive workflow efficiency, and enable accurate, data-driven decision-making.</li><li><b>Factory and Production Line Development: </b>Work in partnership with R&amp;D and technology teams to manage facility expansion, line layout, equipment selection, and automation strategies to support reliable and repeatable high-throughput manufacturing.</li><li><b>Process Optimization: </b>Develop and implement best-in-class manufacturing processes using Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement principles to maximize yield, quality, and throughput.</li><li><b>Supply Chain Management: </b>Build and manage a resilient global supply chain tailored to aerospace-grade components and long-lead materials. Ensure supplier reliability and cost performance.</li><li><b>Quality Assurance: </b>Maintain and scale quality systems (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001) to ensure production meets rigorous aerospace and mission-critical standards.</li><li><b>Cost and Efficiency Management: </b>Drive operational KPIs including cost per unit, cycle time, and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) while managing CapEx and OpEx budgets.</li><li><b>Cross-Functional Collaboration: </b>Interface with engineering, test, and program teams to ensure manufacturability, timely product handoff, and alignment between design and operations.</li><li><b>Team Leadership: </b>Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team across manufacturing, materials management, and facilities operations.</li></ul><h3>What You Bring:</h3><ul><li>15+ years in manufacturing and operations leadership, including experience with high-volume production of precision hardware.</li><li>Demonstrated success in scaling from low-rate to high-rate manufacturing environments, ideally within aerospace, defense, semiconductor, or high-precision hardware sectors.</li><li>Proven experience leading successful ERP system selection, configuration, and implementation.</li><li>Strong background in lean manufacturing, production systems design, and quality assurance.</li><li>Experience with capital project planning, factory setup, and automation integration.</li><li>Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing standards and regulatory compliance.</li><li>Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related technical discipline; Master’s or MBA preferred.</li><li>Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional coordination skills.</li></ul><h3>Our Benefits:</h3><ul><li>Competitive salary + equity - we want you to grow with us</li><li>Generous, high-quality medical, dental, and vision coverage on day one of employment</li><li>PTO of 15 days + annual Holiday Break and 10 paid holidays annually</li><li>401K with employer match up to 4% of salary</li><li>Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability and employer-sponsored life insurance</li><li>Your work will literally<b> go to space!</b></li></ul><br>

<p>Solestial exists to deliver abundant energy in space. Our breakthrough technology is a silicon solar cell engineered for space to self-cure radiation damage under sunlight at operating temperatures as low as 65°C. Solestial solar cells are packaged in an ultrathin, low-mass, flexible solar power module designed to withstand up to 10 years in a variety of destinations in space. Our flexible solar power modules can be produced on automated machines resulting in lower costs than traditional III-V multijunction solar products.</p><p>From today’s satellite constellations and research projects to tomorrow’s lunar settlements and services in space, Solestial’s innovative technology represents a paradigm shift for space solar; an affordable, scalable solution to power sustained development. Solestial is a US company manufacturing solar cells and flexible solar power modules in Tempe, Arizona.</p>

Vice President of Operations

About the Job

About the Company

Solestial

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