Director, Production Operations

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead manufacturing and assembly operations for propulsion product lines, including day-to-day oversight of production floor activities, scheduling, and workflow management at the Madison, WI facility. 

• Execute production strategy to scale propulsion manufacturing from development programs into repeatable, high-rate production with a focus on throughput, yield, and cost efficiency. 

• Standardize propulsion production processes and workflows to create consistent, repeatable, high-quality build operations aligned with enterprise-wide best practices. 

• Support capacity planning and facility buildout efforts for propulsion manufacturing, including layout optimization, equipment installation, and production line commissioning. 

• Drive vertical integration initiatives by standing up and maturing internal propulsion manufacturing capabilities, including additive manufacturing, machining, assembly, and test operations for propulsion components and systems. 

• Implement and mature manufacturing execution systems (MES) and production data infrastructure to enable traceability, repeatability, and real-time visibility into propulsion manufacturing performance. 

• Establish and maintain production operating rhythm through KPIs, dashboards, and review cadences focused on cycle time, yield, throughput, labor efficiency, on-time delivery, and cost for propulsion production. 

• Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) to identify and eliminate production inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve quality in propulsion operations. 

• Collaborate with Propulsion Engineering and Product Assurance to drive design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-test (DFT) into propulsion product development and support new product introduction (NPI) activities. 

• Partner across Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Facilities, Security, and Program Management to ensure aligned production readiness, material availability, and execution against propulsion program schedules. 

• Manage production budgets for propulsion operations and analyze manufacturing costs to implement cost-saving measures that maintain quality standards and support financial goals. 

• Lead and develop production management teams at the Madison facility, including supervisors, engineers, and technicians, fostering collaboration and accountability while upholding company values and a culture of operational excellence. 

• Ensure compliance with industry-specific production standards, safety regulations, and quality management systems (ISO, AS9100, GMP, etc.) applicable to aerospace and propulsion manufacturing operations. 

• Represent propulsion production operations in cross-functional forums and communicate status, risks, and mitigation plans to executive leadership and external stakeholders, including customers and regulatory bodies. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree). 

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, or operations roles in complex technical industries, with a significant portion in leadership positions. 

• The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required

• Proven track record of successfully managing large teams and complex production projects in high-rate manufacturing environments. 

• Strong background in manufacturing processes, assembly & integration, and operational execution for complex electromechanical or aerospace systems, with emphasis on propulsion systems preferred. 

• Demonstrated experience implementing and scaling production operations, including process standardization, workflow optimization, and capacity planning. 

• Experience with data-driven manufacturing systems, MES, and production management processes, including OKR development and performance tracking. 

• Knowledge of design-for-manufacturing (DFM) principles and ability to collaborate with engineering teams to optimize product designs for production. 

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive operational excellence in fast-paced, highly technical environments. 

• Expertise in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) with proven ability to identify and eliminate production inefficiencies. 

• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated ability to manage production budgets, analyze manufacturing costs, and implement cost-saving measures. 

• In-depth knowledge of industry-specific production standards, safety regulations, and quality management systems (ISO, AS9100, GMP, etc.). 

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to represent production interests effectively to executive leadership and external stakeholders. 

• Ability to uphold and model company values while holding others accountable and fostering a culture of operational excellence. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in propulsion manufacturing and test operations, including liquid or hybrid rocket engines, thrusters, or propulsion subsystems. 

• Familiarity with additive manufacturing (3D printing) for propulsion components, including metal printing processes and post-processing. 

• Experience in aerospace, defense, satellite, launch, or high-rate hardware manufacturing across both military and commercial product lines. 

• Experience with vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities such as propulsion, fluid systems, PCBAs, structures, or integrated vehicle production. 

• Experience with spacecraft or satellite integration and production. 

• Familiarity with classified manufacturing and secure production operations. 

• Experience implementing lean or continuous-improvement frameworks at scale in production environments. 

• Experience with automated manufacturing, MES implementation, or production data systems. 

• Experience leading organizational change initiatives specific to production environments, including technology implementation, process redesign, and workforce development. 

• Experience building and scaling production teams during periods of rapid company growth. 

• Master's degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related field.