Standard Job Description

Oversees and manages the operational aspects of ongoing projects and serves as liaison between project management and planning, project team, and line management. Reviews status of projects and budgets; manages schedules and prepares status reports. Assesses project issues and develops resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction goals and objectives. Develops mechanisms for monitoring project progress and for intervention and problem solving with project managers, line managers, and clients.

Position Summary

The Production Operations Lead will own all production‑operations aspects of an advanced missile development program, driving design‑for‑producibility, manufacturing transition, and lifecycle scalability. This role acts as the primary liaison among project management, engineering, line management, and the customer, ensuring schedules, budgets, and quality targets are met.

Primary Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of Manufacturing Engineers, Production Planning & Control specialists, Industrial Engineers, Advanced Manufacturing personnel, and a financial analyst group.
• Mentor and develop team members to execute strategy and tactics that meet program goals.

Design for Manufacturability (DfM) & Transition

• Ensure manufacturability is incorporated early in the design/development process.
• Establish and implement detailed manufacturing transition plans, including tooling, process qualification, and supplier hand‑offs.
• Oversee DfM input during engineering reviews and DfM targeted events

Production Planning 

• Own rate and capacity planning for both internal facilities and key suppliers.
• Oversee schedule, cost, and quality performance for all production activities.
• Manage the make‑vs‑buy decision process, coordinating with Global Supply Chain and Finance.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Champion quality initiatives that guarantee repeatable, repeat‑able production outcomes.
• Support hardware‑process development in partnership with the Engineering Design & Manufacturing Engineering team.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Advanced Manufacturing & Technology, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Test Engineering, Business Operations, and Program Management to align on program milestones.
• Present production‑operations status and risks at Program Review Boards, Customer Reviews, and other key forums.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline
• Broad base of knowledge regarding electronic, electromechanical, and mechanical production
• Previous operations related experience in a production environment
• Ability to effectively communicate at all levels of the organization, including with non‑technical personnel
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated skill in team building, leading through influence, and making decisions with limited information
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance

Desired Skills

• Related professional‑level career experience in production operations
• Lean Six Sigma Green‑ or Black‑Belt certification
• Production‑Operations leadership experience (including program development with strong cross‑functional collaboration)
• Experience in capacity and capital planning
• Broad knowledge of assembly and test methods, with practical application experience
• First‑unit flow planning and execution
• Experience with make‑buy generation and strategy formulation
• Design of manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for assemblies, equipment installation, machining, and material handling
• Control Account Manager Experience (CAM) or cost‑analysis experience
• Familiarity with Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) concepts and hands‑on experience