Operations Manager

Position Summary:
The Operation Manager is responsible for leading manufacturing operations and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities supporting the Space & Recovery (S&R) product line. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for manufacturing, production engineering, and supervisory teams to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations while consistently meeting customer quality, delivery, and performance expectations.

The Operations Manager partners closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Program Management, and other functional leaders to successfully transition new products from development into production while driving operational excellence throughout the product lifecycle. The position is accountable for establishing manufacturing strategies, improving productivity, ensuring regulatory compliance, developing high-performing teams, and fostering a culture built on safety, accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and data-driven decision making.

This position has direct leadership responsibility for the manufacturing and rigging teams supporting Space and Recovery programs and is responsible for achieving operational objectives that align with the organization’s strategic and financial goals.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

• Essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to:
• Provide leadership and direction to manufacturing, production engineering, and supervisory teams to deliver high-quality products safely, on time, and within budget.
• Lead manufacturing participation throughout all phases of New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring manufacturing readiness, production scalability, and successful product launches.
• Serve as the primary manufacturing representative for Space & Recovery NPI programs, collaborating with Engineering and Program
• Management to ensure manufacturability and operational success.
• Develop manufacturing strategies, production plans, and resource requirements that support customer demand and long-term business objectives.
• Ensure production schedules, delivery commitments, and sales forecasts are achieved while maintaining operational efficiency and product quality.
• Establish, monitor, and communicate key operational metrics and leading performance indicators to drive accountability and informed decision making.
• Identify operational risks and implement corrective and preventive actions to minimize disruptions to production, customer commitments, and business objectives.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes and recommend improvements, automation opportunities, equipment upgrades, and technology investments that enhance operational performance.
• Develop, coach, mentor, and evaluate leaders and team members while fostering a culture of engagement, accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning.
• Partner with Human Resources to address employee relations matters, workforce planning, organizational development, and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, customer requirements, regulatory standards, and applicable safety and quality systems.
• Assist the Vice President of Operations with strategic planning, operational objectives, capital planning, budgeting, and long-range manufacturing initiatives.
• Support facility planning, equipment utilization, workforce capacity planning, and resource allocation to meet current and future production demands.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.
• Follows company rules and procedures.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline required. Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of R&D experience supporting product development or New Product Introduction.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years of management experience leading production, engineering, or operations teams.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment required.
• Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience preferred.

Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, New Product Introduction (NPI), Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze operational and technical challenges, develop practical solutions, and successfully execute improvement initiatives.
• Proven leadership skills with a strong bias for action and a results-oriented management style.
• Experience establishing operational metrics, utilizing data analytics, and driving performance improvements through measurable objectives.
• Ability to identify risks proactively and implement effective mitigation strategies before customer or business commitments are impacted.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships across all organizational levels.
• Ability to lead organizational change, develop high-performing teams, and promote employee engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and effectively manage competing priorities.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, problem-solving methodologies, and continuous improvement tools.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing ERP/MRP systems.

Training Requirements:
NA

Travel Requirements:
Periodic travel may be required to support project functions such as supplier visits, product testing, and technical customer meetings.

ITAR Requirements:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Physical Demands: (*)
The position requires that the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, and kneel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with assistance. Vision requirements include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: (*)
This position will require a working environment mix comprised of office, shop floor, field and customer locations (both domestic and international). While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles; outside weather conditions prevalent at the time and an air-conditioned and heated office; static electricity and explosives (in test conditions). The noise level is normally moderate may be occasionally high.

*Note: Both the Physical Demand and Work Environment sections are required by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Pay Range: $135k – $150k