Vice President of Manufacturing

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Savings bank
• Stock options plan
• Vision insurance

Position Summary
AMPERA is seeking a Vice President of Manufacturing to establish and lead the company’s manufacturing organization as AMPERA transitions from technology development into product commercialization and production.

The Vice President of Manufacturing will be responsible for building the manufacturing strategy, organization, facilities, systems, workforce, and operational capabilities required to produce AMPERA’s advanced energy products.

The initial focus will be establishing manufacturing operations for AMPERA’s commercial supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) power generation systems and advanced TPMS-based heat exchanger technology. Over time, the manufacturing organization will expand to include reactor component manufacturing and future thorium-based TRISO fuel production operations.

The successful candidate will build the manufacturing organization from the ground up and develop the operational capabilities necessary to support production scaling, quality requirements, cost objectives, and future nuclear manufacturing standards.

This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Position Purpose
The Vice President of Manufacturing is responsible for transforming AMPERA’s engineering designs into scalable, repeatable, high-quality production operations.

The role serves as the operational leader responsible for industrialization, factory development, production readiness, manufacturing execution, and long-term manufacturing strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Strategy and Organization Development

·       Develop AMPERA’s overall manufacturing strategy and roadmap.
·       Establish the manufacturing organization, structure, staffing plans, and leadership team.
·       Build manufacturing capabilities supporting both near-term and long-term business objectives.
·       Develop manufacturing budgets, capital plans, and facility expansion strategies.
·       Establish operational metrics, performance management systems, and continuous improvement programs.

sCO₂ Power System Manufacturing

·       Establish production capabilities for AMPERA’s commercial sCO₂ power generation systems.
·       Develop manufacturing processes, assembly procedures, production workflows, and quality controls.
·       Lead transition from engineering development to commercial production.
·       Establish production planning and manufacturing execution processes.
·       Drive cost, quality, throughput, and delivery performance.

TPMS Heat Exchanger Manufacturing

·       Develop manufacturing and assembly processes supporting TPMS heat exchanger production.
·       Manage integration of externally manufactured TPMS cores into final product assembly.
·       Support supplier qualification and manufacturing partner development.
·       Develop long-term strategies for internal TPMS manufacturing capability.
·       Lead industrialization of advanced manufacturing technologies supporting future production growth.

Reactor Manufacturing Development

·       Develop manufacturing strategies supporting future reactor component production.
·       Support transition of reactor core manufacturing activities from external suppliers to internal production.
·       Establish manufacturing methods, tooling, inspection systems, and process controls for reactor-related products.
·       Develop production readiness plans supporting future reactor deployment programs.

Thorium TRISO Fuel Manufacturing

·       Lead manufacturing planning activities supporting future thorium-based TRISO fuel production.
·       Participate in development of production facilities, manufacturing processes, and operational readiness plans.
·       Build manufacturing capabilities supporting future fuel production operations.
·       Partner with engineering and quality organizations to establish production qualification methodologies.

Manufacturing Engineering and Industrialization

·       Build and lead the manufacturing engineering organization.
·       Establish design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly processes.
·       Lead production process development and optimization.
·       Develop tooling, fixtures, automation, and production technologies.
·       Support product development programs through early manufacturing involvement.

Facilities and Operations

·       Lead factory planning, facility development, and production infrastructure activities.
·       Support equipment acquisition, installation, commissioning, and startup.
·       Establish operational procedures, workforce training programs, and manufacturing systems.
·       Develop long-term capacity planning and production scaling strategies.

Quality and Compliance

·       Partner with Quality Assurance to establish manufacturing quality systems.
·       Support implementation of nuclear-quality manufacturing processes.
·       Establish production traceability, process control, inspection, and testing systems.
·       Ensure manufacturing readiness for future regulatory and customer requirements.

Cross-Functional Leadership

·       Partner with Engineering to ensure manufacturability of products and technologies.
·       Partner with Supply Chain to establish robust supplier networks and material flow systems.
·       Partner with Program Management to support production and commercialization milestones.
·       Partner with Quality Assurance to establish quality management systems and operational discipline.

Initial Priorities

During the first 24 months, the Vice President of Manufacturing will be expected to:

·       Establish AMPERA’s manufacturing organization and leadership structure.
·       Develop manufacturing plans supporting production of the first commercial sCO₂ power system.
·       Establish assembly and production processes for TPMS heat exchanger products.
·       Develop the roadmap for transitioning reactor component manufacturing in-house.
·       Support manufacturing readiness for future thorium fuel production.
·       Establish manufacturing engineering, industrialization, and production systems.
·       Develop facility, equipment, and workforce plans supporting long-term growth.

Required Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related technical discipline.
·       15+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
·       Demonstrated success building and scaling manufacturing organizations.
·       Experience transitioning products from development into production.
·       Experience establishing manufacturing processes, facilities, and production systems.
·       Strong understanding of manufacturing engineering, industrialization, and operational excellence.
·       Experience leading multidisciplinary manufacturing teams.
·       Strong leadership and organizational development capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

·      Advanced degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or Business.
·      Experience in aerospace, advanced energy, nuclear, defense, industrial equipment, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex industries.
·       Experience with additive manufacturing technologies.
·       Experience supporting first-of-a-kind hardware products.
·       Experience establishing manufacturing operations in startup or high-growth environments.
·       Experience with regulated manufacturing environments and quality systems.
·       Experience supporting nuclear manufacturing, fuel manufacturing, or advanced materials production.

Characteristics of the Successful Candidate
The successful candidate is a builder and industrializer.

They understand how to transform engineering concepts into scalable manufacturing operations. They are equally comfortable developing factory layouts, designing production systems, recruiting manufacturing leaders, evaluating automation opportunities, and solving day-to-day production challenges.

They combine strategic vision with practical execution and possess the leadership capability necessary to build a world-class manufacturing organization from an early-stage foundation.

They thrive in environments where facilities, teams, processes, and products are being created simultaneously.

Success Metrics

·       Successful production of AMPERA’s first commercial sCO₂ power systems.
·       Establishment of scalable manufacturing operations.
·       Successful industrialization of TPMS heat exchanger technology.
·       Transition of selected reactor manufacturing activities in-house.
·       Development of manufacturing readiness for future fuel production.
·       Achievement of quality, cost, throughput, and delivery objectives.
·       Creation of a manufacturing organization capable of supporting AMPERA’s long-term growth strategy.

**Compensation for this position will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition to a competitive salary, Ampera offers a comprehensive benefits package, participation in the Company's equity program through Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), and relocation assistance for qualified candidates, where applicable.