Title: Operations Manager – Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing
Lead Operations. Drive Growth. Shape the Future of Advanced Manufacturing.
MUST HAVE AEROSPACE AND MANUFACTURING to be considered
\Are you a hands-on manufacturing leader with a strong technical background and a passion for operational excellence?
We are seeking an
Operations Manager
to lead manufacturing operations for an established, technically sophisticated organization serving the
aerospace and defense industry. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who thrives in a
high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment
and can balance strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership.
The ideal candidate is a proven manufacturing or production leader who understands how to improve processes, develop people, control costs, and deliver quality — while navigating the complexities of a highly regulated industry.
SAP super-user experience is strongly preferred, and candidates with SAP implementation experience will be especially attractive.
Why This Opportunity?
This role offers the chance to make a visible impact across the entire manufacturing operation. You will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to improve efficiency, support growth, introduce new technologies, and build a high-performing operation.
You will have significant influence over:
- Manufacturing strategy and operational performance
- Production planning, scheduling, and capacity
- Process improvement and continuous improvement
- Capital investments and ROI analysis
- Quality, safety, and regulatory compliance
- Technology and process transfers
- Team development and organizational performance
- New product introduction, prototyping, and small-series production
What You'll Do
- Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations, including
machining, painting, assembly, and customer service.
- Develop and execute production plans, schedules, budgets, and capital investment strategies.
- Analyze costs, production variances, and operational performance and implement corrective actions.
- Identify opportunities to improve
quality, safety, efficiency, productivity, and throughput.
- Establish and monitor operational KPIs and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Partner with Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, and other functions to achieve business and revenue objectives.
- Lead product realization activities for prototypes and small-series production.
- Ensure compliance with
ITAR, EAR, EHS, and OSHA
requirements.
- Support technology and manufacturing-process transfers between U.S. and international facilities.
- Develop annual operating plans aligned with business growth, new programs, and increased production volumes.
- Build, coach, and develop a strong operations team.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and fast-paced manufacturing culture.
- Introduce and leverage new technologies and global manufacturing best practices.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of manufacturing/production management experience
in a customized engineering or manufacturing environment.
- Aerospace and defense industry experience is required.
- Strong technical background with experience in
electro-mechanical manufacturing
highly desirable.
- Experience managing
high-mix, low-volume production.
- SAP experience strongly preferred, particularly hands-on SAP super-user experience. SAP implementation experience is a plus.
- Experience with
ISO 9001
quality systems and manufacturing audits.
- Strong knowledge of continuous improvement, productivity enhancement, and process optimization.
- Practical experience with
FMEA, failure analysis, fault-tree analysis, 8D, and related quality methodologies.
- Experience with production planning, budgeting, cost control, and capital expenditure management.
- Electrical engineering and customer-oriented component/subassembly design experience is a plus.
- Experience in a
unionized manufacturing environment
is preferred.
- Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
The Ideal Leader
We're looking for someone who is more than a manager — a
builder and operator
who can create alignment, solve problems, develop people, and turn operational goals into measurable results.
You should be:
- Strategic but willing to get hands-on.
- Entrepreneurial, driven, and accountable.