Director, Manufacturing Operations - Defense Search

OVERVIEW

Are you looking for a new career opportunity with an exciting Defense/Aerospace company?! Then we've got the right team for you! In this role, you're responsible for the duties listed below.

Immediate opening for a Director, Manufacturing Operations in San Diego, CA who possesses:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or a related technical discipline
• Progressive manufacturing leadership experience within the electronics/electrical component space
• Strong track record of process improvements using data analytics
• Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies

FULL DESCRIPTION: We are seeking a Director of Fuse Manufacturing to lead manufacturing operations for a high-reliability electronic component product line supporting aerospace, defense, space, and other mission-critical applications. This onsite leadership role is responsible for achieving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives while providing strategic and operational leadership across production planning, process performance, quality performance, workforce development, budget management, and data-driven continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have progressive manufacturing leadership experience within the electronics or electrical component space, a strong track record of using data analytics to drive process improvements, Lean/Six Sigma experience, and the ability to mature a manufacturing organization through standard work, process improvement, and operational excellence.

The selected candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing overall leadership and direction for manufacturing operations of a high-reliability electronic component product line
• Setting clear expectations, establishing measurable goals, and driving accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity
• Owning the operating plan and budget for the product line
• Developing and managing production schedules and capacity plans to meet program demands and delivery commitments
• Optimizing throughput, balancing workload, and minimizing bottlenecks while maintaining flexibility
• Analyzing capacity requirements, equipment utilization, and workforce allocation to ensure efficient resource deployment
• Directing manufacturing quality to meet stringent aerospace, defense, and other high-reliability standards
• Partnering with Quality to maintain and improve quality systems
• Monitoring defect and yield trends
• Leading root cause investigations and corrective actions to resolve non-conformances
• Supporting product reliability and customer satisfaction
• Driving a continuous improvement agenda using Lean, Six Sigma, process technology, and operational data
• Using data analytics, operational data, and manufacturing metrics to identify improvement opportunities
• Improving cost, cycle time, yield, on-time delivery, and productivity
• Establishing and tracking operational KPIs
• Leading structured problem-solving and operational reviews
• Enforcing compliance with applicable occupational health, safety, and environmental regulations, including OSHA, EPA, and local requirements
• Fostering a culture of safety awareness and risk prevention
• Leading incident investigations, safety audits, and employee training
• Implementing and sustaining 6S practices to maintain an organized, clean, safe, and efficient workplace
• Leading, coaching, and developing the manufacturing team, including supervisors and production staff
• Establishing training, qualification, certification, and cross-training programs to improve workforce capability and flexibility
• Partnering with Engineering and Quality to review customer contracts and technical requirements
• Supporting new product introduction and transition to production
• Ensuring production capabilities, timelines, and quality expectations are understood and integrated into planning and execution
• Collaborating cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Planning, Program Management, Sales, and Finance
• Aligning operational capability with customer demand, business goals, and financial targets
• Helping document, standardize, and mature manufacturing processes and procedures
• Supporting automation and process improvement initiatives
• Leading a tenured workforce through change, modernization, and operational improvement
• Performing o