Production Lead

Title: Production Lead

Industry: Aerospace/Defense Manufacturing

Location: Stafford, VA - On-site

Compensation: $75,000-$90,000 annually

Relocation: Provided

Travel: Up to 10%

Must be US CItizen (ITAR)

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a hands-on Production Lead to support daily manufacturing operations in a fast-paced defense manufacturing environment. This leader will coordinate production activity, guide production personnel, reinforce safety and quality standards, and help ensure production goals are achieved efficiently and on schedule.

The Production Lead works cross-functionally with Production Management, Quality, Warehouse, Engineering, ATP/Test, and other teams supporting assembly, integration, troubleshooting, testing, and delivery of loitering munition systems and related sub-assemblies.

Required  Qualifications

• 3+ years of manufacturing or production experience in electro-mechanical assembly of similar systems
• Previous supervisory or team lead experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Must have experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or complex manufacturing.
• Ability to read and follow technical documentation and work instructions.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced production environment.
• Basic computer skills; Microsoft Office and ERP/MRP exposure preferred.
• Ability to work on-site in Stafford, VA and travel up to 10% as needed.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business Management, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education, military experience, and manufacturing leadership may be considered.
• Ability to pass a pre-hire and obtain security clearance after being hired
• Must be a U.S. citizen due to ITAR

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with mechanical/electrical assembly and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Familiarity with ATP/Test operations and quality systems.
• Experience in AS9100 or ISO manufacturing environments.

Essential Responsibilities

Production Operations

• Lead daily production floor activities and support execution of production schedules.
• Support production planning and coordinate daily and weekly manufacturing priorities.
• Assist with resource planning, staffing coordination, and workload balancing to meet production goals.
• Maintain visibility of production status, bottlenecks, and recovery plans.
• Coordinate assembly, integration, and ATP/Test priorities with production teams.
• Monitor workflow, staffing, and material availability to minimize downtime.
• Ensure production targets and deadlines are met and escalate production issues, shortages, or technical concerns.
• Support implementation of production processes, work instructions, and standard work.

Team Leadership

• Provide day-to-day direction and support to production personnel.
• Train and mentor employees on assembly processes, safety, quality, and workmanship standards.
• Support employee development, cross-training, onboarding, and qualification of new employees.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and professional conduct on the production floor.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to quality standards, travelers, work instructions, and manufacturing procedures.
• Assist with troubleshooting, rework, and corrective actions.
• Ensure required documentation and traceability practices are followed.

Safety

• Promote and support a strong safety culture throughout production operations.
• Ensure employees follow safety procedures, PPE requirements, and FOD controls.
• Participate in safety meetings, audits, and near-miss investigations.
• Identify and escalate unsafe conditions or behaviors immediately.

Continuous Improvement

• Support Lean Manufacturing and process improvement initiatives.
• Assist with organization and visual management efforts within production areas.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, safety, and workflow.