Team Leader, Optical Manufacturing Freeform

Team Leader, Optical Manufacturing for Freeform

A-shift with the expectation of flexibility to provide leadership coverage across a three-shift operation as business needs evolve.

Minimum 40 hrs/week; overtime as needed

A unique corporate culture combined with a dynamic work environment

At Optimax, we build lenses that power cutting-edge technologies in aerospace, defense, and consumer electronics. Our optics help shape breakthroughs that benefit humanity and protect our freedom. We offer a dynamic and collaborative work environment where innovation and teamwork thrive. We are looking for motivated individuals who are eager to learn, grow, and contribute to impactful projects.

The Team Leader is responsible for day-to-day production execution, technician support, and short-term planning (up to one week ahead). As the first line of leadership, the Team Leader ensures that technicians have clear priorities, equipment is functioning properly, and production goals are met safely and efficiently. This role balances technical execution with people development, ensuring consistent quality, timely delivery, and continuous improvement.

Team Leaders embody The Optimax Way by fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation while supporting the development of technicians and future leaders.

Through On the Job Training (OJT), the Team Leader will be responsible for:

• Assign and oversee technician workstation assignments to ensure balanced workflow and efficient execution.
• Manage daily production runs and ensure alignment with Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Productivity expectations.
• Facilitate Daily Market Meetings and maintain Market Boards to drive communication and accountability.
• Review and adjust weekly production schedules to support departmental priorities and customer commitments.
• Set, monitor, and communicate employee-level KPIs.

• Ensure technicians escalate equipment or manufacturing issues after troubleshooting.
• Partner with the Group Leader to jointly troubleshoot issues.
• Engage Engineering and/or Maintenance to ensure timely resolution.
• Lead firefighting activities and ensure escalation protocols are followed consistently.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Maintenance on equipment issues, process improvements, and corrective actions.

• Conduct regular 1:1s with technicians to provide coaching, feedback, and development support.
• Oversee training execution in collaboration with Management and Engineering.
• Facilitate team meetings and support leadership development initiatives.
• Approve PTO requests and support performance management processes.
• Reinforce expectations, provide timely feedback, and support a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

• Provide timely status updates to PPC and Project Managers.
• Participate in new job process approvals and ensure readiness for execution.
• Maintain shift-to-shift handoff documentation and ensure smooth communication across teams.
• Collaborate with Engineering on SOP development, updates, and implementation.

• Streamline routine communications and administrative tasks to improve efficiency.
• Ensure meetings are purposeful, efficient, and outcome-driven.
• Lead 5S activities within assigned work cells.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in partnership with Engineering, Group Leaders, and technicians.

Advancement through the Team Lead ranks is attained via increasing levels of education, experience, industrial skills, math skills, computing skills, responsibility and leadership potential and effectiveness.

Education Requirements:

• Minimum 4-year degree in Optics, Materials Science or other relevant engineering discipline.

Minimum Requirements:

• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, and workflow.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and support a team in a production environment.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing production needs.
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