Manufacturing Training Manager III

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.

We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.

The Manufacturing Training Manager leads the Manufacturing Training & Readiness function and owns the execution and continuous improvement of Zone5 Foundations, our standardized manufacturing onboarding and production-readiness program.

This role is responsible for building a consistent and scalable approach to manufacturing onboarding, technical training, on-the-job training (OJT), employee qualification, cross-training, skill matrices, and workforce readiness.

The Manufacturing Training Manager partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, MES, EHS, HR, and Operations to ensure employees are prepared to safely and effectively support aerospace production across multiple programs, value streams, and shifts.

The role will also support implementation of Zone5 Foundations and standardized training practices at designated partner or additional manufacturing sites.

• Lead the Manufacturing Training & Readiness team, including Training Supervisors and Training Specialists as applicable.
• Own the execution, standardization, and continuous improvement of Zone5 Foundations.
• Develop and maintain structured manufacturing onboarding, OJT, qualification, cross-training, and retraining practices.
• Establish role-based training and readiness requirements for manufacturing personnel.
• Ensure training content remains aligned with current manufacturing processes, work instructions, quality requirements, MES workflows, and safety expectations.
• Maintain effective training records, qualification documentation, skill matrices, and workforce-readiness reporting.
• Partner with Production and Engineering teams to support NPI, production ramp, new processes, additional shifts, and workforce expansion.
• Establish train-the-trainer practices and develop manufacturing employees and SMEs who support OJT.
• Use training and production data to identify workforce capability gaps and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure training practices support AS9100, customer, safety, and internal audit-readiness requirements.
• Support deployment of Zone5 Foundations and manufacturing training standards to partner or additional manufacturing locations.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, manufacturing operations, engineering, quality, technical training, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience within manufacturing, operations, technical training, engineering, quality, or a related function.
• Demonstrated experience building, scaling, or significantly improving manufacturing training, technical qualification, or workforce capability programs.
• Experience supporting complex production environments involving multiple programs, products, sites, or manufacturing organizations.
• Experience supporting NPI, production ramp, manufacturing transfers, new-site startup, or significant workforce growth.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, controlled documentation, qualification processes, MES, traceability, and quality requirements.
• Strong strategic planning, program management, business acumen, leadership, and executive communication skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Business, Education/Training, Organizational Development, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience.
• Familiarity with AS9100, IPC, ESD, FOD, Lean Manufacturing, and regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting NPI, production ramp, multi-shift operations, or manufacturing-site growth.
• Familiarity with instructional design,…