The Sr. Manager, Stress Engineering will lead a team of analysis engineers focusing on structures, mechanical systems, fatigue, durability and damage tolerance, propulsion, interiors, methods, internal loads, test and materials review board. Guided by our values, "Safety Above All", we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.
Responsibilities - Oversee and improve VG's stress capabilities, resources and procedures as required to meet the needs of the engineering organization and all VG programs.
- Track stress team schedule and budget and regularly report results to senior leadership and program staff.
- Provide technical review and approval of engineering documentation including stress plans, procedures, reports and associated designs.
- Resolve schedule and technical setbacks by developing and implementing practically driven recovery plans with engineering and program staff.
- Support team development and growth with a commitment to elevating people through hiring, mentorship and career development of stress engineers.
- Drive practical continuous improvement of stress activities including stress processes, capital projects, standardization efforts and training activities.
- Responsible for the development and implementation of engineering tools/methods/processes for the functional area of responsibility.
- Champion the automation of manual processes in the spirit of Digital Transformation through development of standard Structural Integrity Methods.
- Establish and coordinate processes, plans, and procedures necessary to provide timely, accurate, and focused engineering substantiation.
- Promote the continual identification and active management of teams' risks and opportunities.
- Foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity, sharing, creative problem solving, and strategic thinking.
- Ensure the integrity of the team's engineering through informed, data-driven decisions.
- Emphasize Safety in all situations including inside and outside the organization.
- Responsibility for resource planning and determining program assignments.
- Interface regularly with engineering managers/leads assigned to development programs to generate technical approach plans, staffing requirements, and understand schedule needs.
- Responsible for assuring staffing needs and proper skills are deployed for each development program. This includes contractors and Engineering Service Providers as needed by program leadership.
- Responsible for attracting, hiring, onboarding and retention of team members.
- Deliver department communications through regular staff meetings, provides career planning, performance management, mentoring, and training to the team.
- Responsible for resolving performance deficiencies or policy violations.
- Responsible for engineering personnel having defined tools, methods and processes for executing their individual technical tasks.
- Responsible for ensuring common "best" practices are integrated across the development programs and are used upon program go ahead.
- Participate in various technical reviews for specific product development activities and verify that technical requirements are properly achieved.
- Work with product development Chief Engineer and technical leads to assist in resolving all technical issues and helps implement personnel and process improvements, when needed.
- Support review of manufacturing plans and procedures to ensure compliance with program, design and loads requirements.
- Responsible for the creation of structural stress plans which will be used to verify manufacturing processes that meet design intent and requirements.
- Responsible for developing departmental budget inputs to include process and capability improvements and managing the final approved budget throughout the fiscal year.
- Conduct personnel evaluations and one-on-ones with team members at regular intervals to:
- Develop personalized growth & development plans, as well as appropriate annual goals
- Track performance to aforementioned plans and goals
- Ensure team member concerns are being appropriately addressed
- Partner with Human Resources to promote a "people first" culture and resolve all personnel-related matters in a timely fashion.
- Foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity, sharing, out-of-the-box thinking and seeing the big-picture.
- Human Resource-based responsibilities as needed include but are not limited to:
- Review and approval of individual timecards, time-off requests, and expense reports
- Creation and enaction of Performance Improvement Plans
- Manage team members required company-level training plans
- Facilitating knowledge transfer on policies & procedures between HR / Stress teams
- Execute other duties as required by Virgin Galactic senior leadership to support company and program objectives.
- Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks
Required Skills and Experience - Bachelor's Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline 8+ years of experience of relevant experience related to Stress or Stress-adjacent relevant disciplines.
- 5+ years of demonstrated leadership experience.
- Excellent knowledge of aerospace stress practices including component acceptance and qualification, structural validation, environmental stressing, instrumentation, and data acquisition
- Experience in Fatigue and Damage Tolerance substantiation
- Experience in composite fabrication, design, and analysis processes.
- Experience with Full Scale testing of primary structure in a FAR 23/25 or DoD environment
- Proven analytical skills in stress relevant engineering areas
- Demonstrated proficiency using FEMAP and NASTRAN
- Strong schedule management skills and understanding of schedule relationship to scope and cost
- Team player with straight up effective communication and good interpersonal skills with the proven ability to lead, motivate and build teams
- Effective organizational skills, capable of effectively juggling and completing multiple tasks across different disciplines and programs
- Highly autonomous with effective delegation skills
- Experience moderating difficult situations and conflict resolution
- Experience coaching, mentoring and developing the critical skills of others
- Experience leading geographically dispersed / virtual teams
- Experience leading a team through change
- Ability to build effective relationships
- Must be self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision, adaptable to changing environments and handle multiple tasks and/or projects simultaneously
- Encourages other employees to do the same and leads by exemplary service.
- Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.
- Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas
Preferred Skills and Experience - Familiarity with space flight vehicles, rocket propulsion systems, and components.
- Knowledge of FAA Part 23 and 25 FARs.
- Spacecraft and launch vehicle structural analysis, design, build, and test experience
- Experience with dynamic (modal) testing and correlation of structures
- Experience with instrumentation for ground and flight tests
- Experience with mathematical modeling, simulation, and control algorithms.
- Experience developing structural integrity procedures or manuals.
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The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $122,364.00-$186,636.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit
Who We Are Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles .
Export Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list
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EEO Statement
Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Drug Free Workplace
Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.
Phoenix Employment Requirements
For individuals seeking employment at our Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility, employment is contingent upon you obtaining and maintaining a TSA authorized security badge. This includes initial and annual mandatory background checks that are governed by TSA, and conducted by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport badging office.
