Architect, Digital Manufacturing Solutions

Virgin Galactic, www.VirginGalactic.com (SPCE:NYSE), recognizes that the answers to many of the challenges we face in sustaining life on our beautiful but fragile planet, lie in making better use of space. Sending people to space has not only expanded our understanding of science, but taught us amazing things about human ingenuity, physiology and psychology. From space, we are able to look with a new perspective both outward and back. From space, the borders that are fought over on Earth are arbitrary lines. From space, it is clear that there is much more that unites us than divides us.

“We are at the vanguard of a new industry determined to pioneer twenty-first century spacecraft, which will open space to everybody — and change the world for good.”  Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is seeking a new member for our team to serve as the Solution Architect (SA) for our Digital Manufacturing initiative within our Infrastructure Technology group. The SA-DM reports to the Director, Enterprise Architecture and will be responsible for defining and leading IT and business process change initiatives and includes formalizing project definition capabilities as a key driver of manufacturing demand. This person will drive solutions that improve business processes, develop new capabilities that improve effectiveness, drive cost efficiency or service improvements, and that support risk reduction & revenue generation. This includes ensuring that cross functional processes are optimized, automated, and integrated within the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and other required systems. This role forms part of an essential systems and process center of excellence ensuring connected business process throughout the lifecycle of our aircraft and vehicles – the creation of our “Digital Thread”.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of current state processes to fully document strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement across project planning, factory demand planning, and supply chain, materials & inventory management and shop floor operations.
• Create Target State Architecture and strategy for the Virgin Galactic production platform and establish the current and long-range technology direction and roadmap ensuring full integration into the company “Digital Thread” with required quality-based feedback loops
• Perform gap analysis of current state versus target state architectures and develop a plan to address gaps that represent risk to business initiatives.
• Define and gain agreement for end state processes and ensure current and future processes fully support data integrity requirements across the enterprise.
• Facilitate solution definition with subject matter experts and other Enterprise Architects to ensure cross functional process integration and cohesion and ensure that all stakeholders are part of the solution definition process.
• Advise on the selection of key enterprise tools (e.g., data source, IOT, sensors, scheduling, graphic design, analytics, mobility) to ensure processes and data usage is optimal.
• Develop and manage appropriate performance and efficiency metrics for the functional process domain, to identify and support continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Author complex macro (and micro where applicable) level process requirements defining how the functional requirements will be technically enabled.
• Provide technical direction for the design of complex and large-scale systems solutions to effectively implement the created strategy.
• Provide leadership for the solution design of projects that address key business needs. This includes the analysis of multiple solution options.
• Provide guidance to an extended project team related to the systems and process solutions, and technical design. Assists and advises project teams in the configuration, testing, implementation, and support of technical solutions.
• Author sizing and detailed estimates for complex new project requests. Participates in the creation of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models for large and complex projects.
• Evaluate new technologies and provide recommendations for investment to establish novel or improve existing enterprise architectures.
• Learn and contribute toward enterprise-wide architecture and business process models in other process or technical domains.

• Minimum of 8 years of experience with enterprise ERP/MES systems (i.e, Oracle MES, DELMIA, Opcenter Execution, Forge).
• Demonstrates experience and knowledge of ERP fundamentals related to manufacturing, production planning, shop floor operations, quality, supply chain and inventory management.
• Maintains deep understanding of the item, parts, product and material management best practices and integration eco-system.
• Recognizes the positive affect of collaboration, thrives when managing and planning project elements and working with team members.
• Can build a strong rapport with others but can also work independently. 
• Maintains excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills; have a background in business skills, management, budgeting, and analysis.
• Possesses a keen mind for discovering and defining business processes, requirements, and their relationship to provide continuity in all major application decisions.
• Possesses and use business savvy to make decisions regarding product features the end user will access to drive the products planned results.
• Can define problems effectively, assemble and analyse data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make sound recommendations.
• Takes initiative, has a competitive drive and the ability to stay focused on results despite ambiguity and/or changing conditions.
• Demonstrates solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
• Demonstrates proven ability to manage multiple, often competing project workloads and activities.
• Has solid technical background, with understanding or hands-on experience in software development, infrastructure technology or web technologies.
• Demonstrates excellent client-facing & internal communication skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Has strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Experience in the aerospace sector a plus
• Project management certification (i.e. PMP or equivalent) a plus
• Enterprise architect certification (i.e. TOGAF or equivalent) a plus

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

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, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

As part of our commitment to health and safety, COVID-19 vaccines are required for current U.S. teammates, as well as newly hired employees.

 As of October 1, 2021, all new hires must be able to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19virus, (“fully vaccinated” means at least two week have expired since receiving the vaccination’s last dose as recommended by the manufacturer).  If you are offered employment, this requirement must be met be your date of hire.  Virgin Galactic complies with federal, state, and local laws with regard to accommodations related to this policy.