Manufacturing Operations Manager

Overview

We are seeking a highly organized, hands-on Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead day-to-day production activities for our unmanned systems (UAS) products. This role will own execution of manufacturing schedules, shop floor operations, assembly quality, inventory flow, and process improvement.

This person will act as the primary driver of manufacturing execution, ensuring products are built correctly, on time, and with consistent quality, while continuously improving processes, documentation, and efficiency.

This is a hands-on role ideal for someone with experience building electromechanical products in a fast-paced environment (drones, robotics, defense hardware, industrial electronics, etc.).

Production & Shop Floor Leadership:

• Own daily production execution, including build priorities, workflow management, and labor allocation.
• Manage technicians and assemblers performing mechanical assembly, wiring, and final integration.
• Ensure builds are completed on schedule and escalations are handled quickly.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and efficient production environment.

Manufacturing Process & Documentation:

• Develop and improve assembly work instructions, process flows, and standardized build procedures.
• Maintain and enforce configuration control of build documents and revisions.
• Identify process bottlenecks and implement improvements for efficiency and repeatability.
• Support engineering changes and ensure changes are correctly implemented on the floor.

Inventory, Materials, and Kitting:

• Coordinate purchasing, receiving, kitting, and material staging for builds.
• Maintain inventory accuracy and help implement inventory systems and best practices.
• Monitor shortages and proactively manage procurement priorities with purchasing staff/vendors.
• Ensure traceability and proper handling of controlled or compliance-sensitive components.

Quality Control & Testing Support:

• Own quality expectations for assembled products and ensure compliance with internal build standards.
• Support functional test procedures and final QA checks prior to shipment.
• Identify recurring issues and implement corrective actions.
• Manage rework/repair workflow and track root causes.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

• Work closely with engineering, supply chain, and leadership to support product scaling.
• Provide clear production status reporting and communicate risks early.
• Assist with hiring and onboarding manufacturing personnel as the organization grows.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years experience in manufacturing operations for electromechanical products.
• Strong understanding of mechanical assembly and wiring harness builds.
• Experience managing production teams and day-to-day floor execution.
• Strong documentation discipline (SOPs, work instructions, ECO implementation).
• Comfortable working in a high-accountability environment with tight delivery timelines.
• Strong troubleshooting mindset (mechanical + electrical).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in drones/UAS, aerospace, robotics, defense, or mission-critical hardware.
• Familiarity with Ardu Pilot / PX4 systems, autopilots, and UAV integration workflows.
• Experience with quality systems, ISO-style manufacturing discipline, or controlled production environments.
• Experience with ERP/MRP tools (Net Suite, Odoo, Fishbowl, etc.)
• Knowledge of ITAR/EAR/NDAA considerations and traceability requirements.
• Experience scaling production from prototype to low-rate production (LRIP) to full production.

Key Traits for Success:

• Extremely organized and process-driven.
• Comfortable being hands-on (this is not a desk-only management role).
• Strong leadership presence—can hold people accountable while building a good culture.
• Good communicator who can coordinate between production and engineering teams.
• Strong bias for execution and continuous improvement.

Compensation:

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Benefits and growth opportunity in a rapidly scaling UAS manufacturing environment.