Project Kuiper is seeking several experienced Value Stream Leaders to lead highvolume production operations at Kuipers satellite production facility in Kirkland WA. Kuipers constellation will provide lowlatency highspeed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.
The Value Stream Leader will be the singlethreaded owner responsible for one of 5 organizations that manufacture the toplevel assemblies of the Kuiper Satellite. The Managers responsibilities will include defining and implementing the strategic vision for each value stream and overseeing the daily operations of the value stream. Safety and product quality are paramount. The Manager and their team will work closely with development engineering for manufacturing process definitions and will leverage our teams in procurement manufacturing and supply chain to enable highvolume production throughput. The role is based in Kirkland WA.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & IMPACT
As one of only 5 Value Stream Leaders you will define and execute the strategic vision for manufacturing a critical segment of Kuipers satellite constellation one of Amazons most ambitious and transformative projects
Direct ownership of endtoend production strategy and for a major satellite assembly line that is core to Kuipers mission of global connectivity
Key member of the production leadership team with significant visibility and influence at senior leadership levels across Kuiper and Amazon
Strategic decisionmaker for production scaleup plans that will help deliver thousands of satellites to create a worldchanging broadband constellation
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
Full P&L and operational ownership of a major value stream within Kuipers stateoftheart Kirkland manufacturing facility
Leadership of a large multidisciplinary team including both technical and production staff
Control of critical manufacturing assets and production lines essential to Kuipers success
Strategic partnership with development engineering to define and implement manufacturing processes
Crossfunctional leadership working with procurement supply chain quality and other key stakeholders
ORGANIZATIONAL INFLUENCE
Direct reporting relationship to Production Plant Manager with extensive senior leadership exposure
Critical role in shaping manufacturing culture and operational excellence across the broader organization
Strategic influence over facility layout production line design staffing models and operational decisionmaking
Key voice in longterm production strategy and scaleup planning
Leadership in implementing quality systems and safety standards that will define Kuipers manufacturing excellence
Export Control Requirement:
Due to applicable export control laws and regulations candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Key job responsibilities
Champion Amazons Leadership Principles to drive a culture of ownership accountability teamwork and working hard while having fun
Create a culture of safety and quality through active engagement and leadership of the technician workforce
Establish great working relationships with design engineering quality EH&S and supply chain teams
Work closely with key stakeholders to develop a longterm strategy for production rate increases over time
Drive operational excellence with a combination of data analytics and Lean operations
A day in the life
The Value Stream Leader will lead a specific manufacturing organization at Kuipers new fullrate production facility. They will own the layout and of the production lines line balancing staffing and operational decisionmaking for their production lines and work closely with engineering teams to ensure processes are capable of meeting design intent. The successful candidate has extensive operations experience in manufacturing of space hardware and a thorough understanding of aerospace/space standards and quality systems. The Value Stream Leader will be a visible leader with strong communication skills. The role is highly impactful and will drive our success as the premier satellite broadband constellation.
About the team
Project Kuipers mission is to provide lowlatency highspeed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Production of Kuipers develpoment satellites takes place in Redmond WA and we have announced a new fullrate production facility in Kirkland WA that will meet the demands of the full constellation.
Bachelors degree in engineering operations management or related discipline (Masters preferred)
8 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience including 5 years in space/aerospace hardware production
5 years of people leadership experience managing large complex teams 50 employees) across multiple shifts and disciplines
Demonstrated track record of leading strategic manufacturing initiatives with P&L responsibility
Experience scaling operations from low to high volume production
Experience leading manufacturing operations for space/aerospace systems at constellation or highvolume production scale
Track record of successfully launching new production facilities or major production lines
Deep understanding of automated manufacturing processes for complex systems integration
Experience implementing operational excellence systems (Lean Six Sigma Black Belt etc.
Strong track record of collaborating with engineering and product development teams
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Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $161700/year in our lowest geographic market up to $279600/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on jobrelated knowledge skills and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered equity signon payments and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package in addition to a full range of medical financial and/or other benefits. For more information please visit This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.