IT Developer III, Spaceline Product Development & Production

The Developer III – Spaceline Product Development & Production is a key member of the Information Technology Digital Thread team, responsible for designing, building, configuring, and integrating solutions on the 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) platform across the engineering-to-manufacturing lifecycle. Guided by our values, “Safety Above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions.

This role supports and improves platform capability and data integration across Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), design release, engineering change (ECR/ECO), Bill of Materials management (EBOM/MBOM), manufacturing planning and work instructions, and quality workflows, along with the integrations that connect 3DX to ERP, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), quality, and analytics platforms.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Enterprise Applications teams, this individual architects complex platform solutions, serves as the technical escalation point for the most difficult 3DX issues, leads technical design reviews, and sets the customization patterns other developers follow. As a senior contributor, the role mentors junior developers, leads projects end to end, and raises the team’s standards for quality, documentation, and security. The role helps ensure data integrity, configuration management, export-controlled (ITAR) handling of technical data, and end-to-end traceability across enterprise systems while keeping the platform upgrade-safe. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

Responsibilities

• Architect complex 3DEXPERIENCE platform solutions and serve as the technical escalation point for the hardest platform issues.

• Lead technical design reviews and establish the customization patterns, reusable components, and standards that other developers follow.

• Build and extend platform customizations, including data model changes, EKL and scripting, widgets, and workflow and change-process configuration, in an upgrade-safe manner.

• Design the integration approach for the product data ecosystem on new initiatives, connecting 3DX with ERP, MES, quality, and analytics platforms through APIs and web services.

• Lead data migrations and bulk-load efforts, including legacy CAD/PLM and supplier data, with reconciliation, verification, backup, and rollback plans.

• Serve as escalation point for cross-system product data integrity issues spanning EBOM/MBOM structures and downstream business systems.

• Act as subject-matter expert for major process areas, including configuration and change management, EBOM-to-MBOM, work instructions, and quality workflows, and design for cross-process impacts.

• Advise Engineering and Production stakeholders on using standard platform capability before building custom solutions.

• Lead technical validation for platform upgrades and CAD client rollouts across the team’s scope, identifying and communicating impacts early.

• Set and enforce quality standards for code and configuration through reviews, reusable patterns, and performance practices.

• Shape environment strategy, including dev/test/prod parity, refresh cadence, and test data handling for export-controlled information.

• Lead small-to-medium projects end to end, covering scoping, planning, execution, and stakeholder communication, and quantify the impact of improvements delivered.

• Mentor junior developers through structured shadowing, training, and skill development plans, and lead onboarding of new team members.

• Set the standard for documentation quality, review the work of others, and close documentation gaps with self-service content that reduces repeat work.

• Build and change systems securely by default, review team processes for security gaps, and act as first responder for security events in the platform domain.

• Partner with InfoSec team to assess and remediate application security vulnerabilities and incidents.

• Ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture, data governance, and IT standards.

• Pursue continuous learning and support other projects and initiatives as assigned.

• Coach, train, and transfer expertise to your team to drive projects to completion.

• Ensure teammates practice safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention and adhere to regulatory protocols and rules.

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• 10+ years of experience in Information Systems, software development, or a related field.

• 5+ years of hands-on development and configuration experience on PLM platforms; 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) or ENOVIA strongly preferred.

• 5+ years of experience integrating enterprise applications using APIs, web services, and middleware.

• 3+ years of experience supporting engineering and manufacturing business processes such as design release, engineering change, BOM management, and manufacturing planning.

• Extensive experience delivering through a formal SDLC, including source control, code review, unit and regression testing, and release management.

• Extensive experience with data migration and bulk-load activities, including reconciliation and rollback planning.

• Demonstrated experience leading technical design, code and configuration reviews, and small-to-medium technical projects.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring or formally developing junior technical staff.

• Adhere to set directions and guidelines from team leader to support collaboration across teams to complete projects.

Required Skills & Experience

• Deep working knowledge of the 3DEXPERIENCE data model and the platform apps in use across design, PLM and change, and manufacturing planning, including how they interact.

• Proficiency with EKL, platform scripting and customization, and widget development, with a clear understanding of upgrade-safe design.

• Strong SQL skills and the ability to analyze complex data sets and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Ability to debug complex customizations and integrations to root cause using platform logs and tooling.

• Working knowledge of Java, XML, JSON, REST and SOAP web services, and client/server architecture.

• Working knowledge of configuration management, export-control (ITAR) handling of technical data, and data governance in a regulated environment.

• Ability to translate engineering and manufacturing requirements into sound technical designs, asking the right clarifying questions, and to distinguish process problems from system problems and route each correctly.

• Sound judgment when trusted with elevated access and high-impact changes, including the ability to make and document defensible decisions in ambiguous situations where no procedure exists.

• Ability to influence without authority, coach peers, and act as decision-maker for the team when the lead is unavailable.

• Ability to quickly learn new technologies and implement system enhancements.

• Experience with collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Box, and OneDrive.

• Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing, or other highly regulated industry experience preferred.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and customer service skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including honest, jargon-free updates during incidents and the ability to handle sensitive or escalated stakeholder situations.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

• Self-motivated, collaborative, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.

• Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas.

#LI-RC1

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $135,385.00–$202,400.00. 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 https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

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 here .

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.