Director Production and Quality

Title

Director Production and Quality

Englewood, CO

Full Time

Senior Manager/Supervisor

Exempt (Administrative, Supervisory, Learned Professional (Engineer); Outside Salesperson)

Reports to:

CEO

As Described in Offer Letter

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, conditional residents, asylum seekers, refugees, or otherwise eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State due to Space Technology Export Regulations.

Sodern America, a global manufacturer with 60+ years of innovation, is establishing a production line in Colorado to serve North American customers.

The director leads production and quality operations for manufacturing Star Trackers and Cameras in the U.S., ensuring safe, efficient, cost‑effective operations that meet customer expectations and business objectives. The role oversees production planning, manufacturing execution, system integration and testing, quality assurance, continuous improvement initiatives, workforce development, and operational performance. The director collaborates with Sodern France, drives local staffing, and coordinates training.

• Production Leadership
  • Direct and oversee all local manufacturing production activities to achieve cost, quality and schedule objectives
  • Lead production and quality team members to support daily manufacturing operations
  • Ensure effective production scheduling and resource allocation to meet customer demand and inventory levels
  • Monitor and report on production KPIs and make necessary adjustments to staffing and/or process
  • Problem‑solve and support the production team when issues or obstacles arise
  • Collaborate with Sodern France, other departments and partners to optimize the manufacturing process
  • Manage allocated production budgets (investment, training, expenses, etc.)
  • Ensure the availability of materials and facility needs for smooth operations
• Quality Leadership
  • Provide leadership and oversight of production quality control
  • Establish and maintain certification requirements (AS9100 etc.)
  • Establish, implement and report on service quality indicators
  • Provide oversight for root cause analysis and corrective action for quality issues such as defective parts
  • Establish and maintain quality systems, procedures, audits and compliance programs
  • Promote a culture of accountability and continuous quality improvement
• Operational Excellence
  • Adopt operational excellence methodologies to enhance problem‑solving
  • Propose and implement internal organizational improvements that reduce waste and improve yield and productivity
  • Leverage metrics and data analytics to drive informed operational decisions
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Create a dynamic team environment by building, mentoring and developing high performing production and quality teams
  • Handle production and quality recruitment in coordination with HR
  • Establish clear performance expectations and accountability
  • Foster a collaborative, safety‑focused, and results‑driven culture
• Safety and Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with company policy and all safety, environmental and regulatory requirements (OSHEA, etc.)
  • Participate in incident investigations and corrective action implementations

• Deep understanding of manufacturing operations and quality systems involving complex systems production in an industrial context is required.
• Knowledge of relevant technical fields (mechanics, optics, electronics) and quality requirements for space, aeronautical, or similar products is required; specific knowledge of star tracker system architecture and optronics is an advantage.
• Understanding of continuous improvement methodologies and proven track record driving operational improvements and quality performance is required.
• Understanding of safety and compliance regulation and demonstrated application in a manufacturing environment is required.
• Background in engineering preferred; knowledge of AOCS engineering in the space industry is an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to lead and motivate teams, interact with clients, and…