Head of Manufacturing

FPC of Brighton is partnering with a well-capitalized, high-growth aerospace company developing a next-generation commercial aircraft platform. The organization is moving from aircraft development into industrialization and is building a major new U.S. manufacturing operation. This is an opportunity to shape the production system, factory strategy, and manufacturing organization from the ground up.

The Head of Manufacturing & Quality will lead the manufacturing strategy and execution required to transition from prototype aircraft to full-scale production. Reporting to the President/COO, this executive will play a central role in factory development, production-system design, manufacturing technology, quality, tooling, industrial engineering, and operational scale‑up.

This is not a steady-state plant leadership role. The successful candidate will have previously built or launched a major manufacturing operation and will bring both proven experience and a willingness to rethink traditional aerospace manufacturing methods.

What You’ll Do

Manufacturing Strategy & Factory Launch

• Develop and execute the manufacturing strategy for a next‑generation commercial aircraft program, including production planning, quality, safety, cost, and scalability.
• Lead the startup and ramp‑up of a large greenfield manufacturing campus, including factory planning, production lines, tooling, automation, and capital deployment.
• Turn the high‑level manufacturing concept into detailed production processes, systems, layouts, and execution plans.
• Partner with construction management, owner‑representative, engineering, and external technology partners to keep factory development and cash deployment aligned with program milestones.
• Bring new thinking to aircraft production, clearly articulating how alternative manufacturing approaches can improve quality, cost, throughput, and scalability.

Operations, Technology & Quality

• Build a high‑performance manufacturing organization across production, industrial engineering, tooling, maintenance, quality, and related disciplines.
• Champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement while adapting proven principles to a highly automated, digitally enabled production environment.
• Drive adoption and integration of advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, digital manufacturing systems, ERP, and quality‑management tools.
• Ensure manufacturability and design‑to‑cost alignment through close partnership with Design, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality.
• Provide executive leadership for aerospace quality systems and the processes required to support FAA production certification.
• Own manufacturing operating and capital budgets and help establish a disciplined roadmap for bringing production facilities online.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Recruit, develop, and lead a growing cross‑functional manufacturing organization.
• Build strong partnerships with engineering teams, technology providers, automation and tooling suppliers, and external advisors.
• Create a culture of operational excellence, accountability, innovation, and rapid problem solving.
• Support workforce‑development and community initiatives as the manufacturing footprint expands.

What We’re Looking For

• Approximately 15+ years of aerospace or advanced manufacturing experience, including significant senior leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience launching a major greenfield manufacturing site; a substantial brownfield startup or transformation may also be relevant.
• A track record of taking manufacturing operations from concept or early‑stage development through launch, ramp, and higher‑rate production.
• Deep manufacturing leadership experience with strong practical knowledge of lean production, factory design, industrial engineering, tooling, automation, and advanced manufacturing technology.
• A digital‑manufacturing mindset: someone who actively drives new technology into the factory rather than simply overseeing traditional operations.
• Ability to lead aerospace quality at the executive level, ask the right questions, and ensure strong systems and accountability without needing to be the organization’s hands‑on quality specialist.
• Proven ability to build teams, attract strong talent, and establish an organization capable of scaling rapidly.
• Comfort operating in an entrepreneurial environment where the strategy is defined at a high level but many critical details still need to be created.

Preferred Background

• Aerospace & defense experience is highly desirable; exceptional leaders from other complex, highly engineered manufacturing environments will be considered.
• Experience with large‑scale assembly and/or composite structures.
• Experience in a startup, new program, or other zero‑to‑one industrial environment.
• Exposure to digital twin, model‑based manufacturing, or similarly advanced production systems.
• A strong network of manufacturing, engineering, automation, tooling, and technology talent and partners.

Location & Travel

This role is based onsite in Greensboro, North Carolina. Travel is expected to be approximately 30%, including regular collaboration with engineering teams and visits to tooling and automation suppliers.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: Up to $350,000.
• Meaningful equity participation with a five‑year vesting schedule beginning on day one.

FPC of Brighton is conducting this search on behalf of our client. Qualified candidates must have current authorization to work in the United States.