Director, Directed Energy Operations

Worker Type Regular Job  Description Summary This  role will serve as the senior leader responsible for all directed energy product manufacturing, with end-to-end accountability for transitioning a portfolio of DE products from engineering development into scalable, high-reliability production. Reporting to the VP of Manufacturing for Space, Cyber and Directed Energy Segment at AV, this position will play a critical role in enabling productization, accelerating production readiness, and delivering operational excellence across the directed energy manufacturing  addition to strategic leadership, this role has direct responsibility for tactical execution across manufacturing operations, including material planning, supply chain coordination, and quality performance.

The leader will ensure day-to-day execution meets cost, schedule, and performance objectives while aligning closely with AV’s Global Operations to adopt and enforce enterprise initiatives, policies, tools, and standardized processes.

This role requires a forward-leaning, collaborative leader capable of driving both execution discipline and organizational transformation, ensuring directed energy manufacturing operates with speed, rigor, and scalability in alignment with evolving commercial and national security priorities.

Key Responsibilities Lead all aspects of directed energy product manufacturing across a portfolio of products, including production readiness, rate ramp, quality, and delivery performance

Own tactical execution across manufacturing operations, including:

Material planning and production scheduling

Supply chain coordination and input on supplier performance

Quality execution, compliance, and defect reduction

Daily/weekly operating cadence to ensure commitments are met Drive the transition from engineering development to full-rate production, ensuring design-for-manufacturability, producibility, and cost optimization

Partner closely with engineering to mature designs and implement robust build-to-print, configuration control, and production release processes

Ensure full compliance with DE manufacturing standards, including IPC J-STD requirements and applicable space addenda, as well as mission assurance and reliability expectations

Establish and scale manufacturing processes that meet high-reliability, low-defect, and traceability requirements for DE systems

Lead cross-functional coordination across engineering, quality, supply chain, programs, and finance to deliver on cost, schedule, and performance commitments

All other relevant duties as assigned

Partner with Global Operations to:

Ensure alignment to enterprise initiatives, policies, and governance

Drive adoption of standard tools and systems, including Oracle Fusion Implement consistent processes, metrics, and reporting across sites

Support enterprise-wide continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives

Champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, improving throughput, reducing cycle time, and optimizing cost structure

Build and develop a high-performing organization across manufacturing, material planning, supply chain, and quality functions

Align manufacturing strategy with broader company direction to accelerate commercialization and productization, consistent with evolving government and market priorities

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related technical or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing or operations experience required with minimum 4-6 years of direct managerial experience

Strong track record in leading multi-site or complex manufacturing operations in the aerospace, defense, or high-technology industries.

Proven experience leading space hardware manufacturing organizations, including responsibility for both strategic leadership and tactical execution

Demonstrated success transitioning products from engineering development into production at scale

Deep expertise in space manufacturing standards and requirements, including IPC J-STD and applicable space addenda, as well as quality and mission assurance frameworks

Strong understanding of material planning, supply chain operations, and quality systems in high-reliability environments

Experience operating within complex, regulated environments (defense, aerospace, or DE)
Track record of leading cross-functional teams and influencing across engineering, operations, and program organizations

Experience implementing or operating within enterprise ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Oracle Fusion or equivalent)
Demonstrated ability to drive operational discipline while leading transformation and standardization efforts

Collaborative leadership style with ability to work effectively across segment and enterprise (Global Operations) structures

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

Experience with multi-product portfolios

Background in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing transitioning to…