Director of Operations (Aerospace)

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY:

Karman is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead and coordinate manufacturing operations across our El Monte and Corona locations. This role is responsible for ensuring and improving the performance, productivity, efficiency, and profitability of LA region operations through effective leadership, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement. The Director of Operations will drive operational excellence across machining, fabrication, and downstream processing environments while aligning production execution with strategic business objectives.

ABOUT US:

Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission-critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility. Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordination & Supervision
  1. Lead, coordinate, and monitor the activities of operations managers and functional departments. Establish clear accountability, performance expectations, and operating rhythms.
• Operational Excellence / Best Practices
  1. Improve processes and policies in support of organizational goals. Develop and implement procedures that maximize safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. Ensure adherence to regulatory, quality, and internal operating standards.
• Production Leadership
  1. Oversee manufacturing operations including machining, fabrication, forming, finishing, and assembly. Monitor throughput, schedule attainment, and labor productivity. Ensure equipment readiness, maintenance execution, and capacity alignment.
• Human Resources Partnership
  1. Support workforce planning, recruiting, and organizational structuring. Develop leaders, evaluate performance, and build succession depth. Establish effective labor utilization and work scheduling practices.
• Communication
  1. Drive effective cross-functional communication between operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, and program management. Promote closed-loop communication and escalation discipline.
• Third-Party Oversight
  1. Ensure proper administration and execution of subcontracted or temporary labor services.
• Financial & Strategic Management
  1. Develop operational plans aligned to company strategy. Review financial and production data to ensure budget alignment. Manage inventory, cost performance, and operational spending. Partner with executive leadership on long-range capacity and investment planning.

DESIRED INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP PROFILE:

• The ideal candidate will bring deep operational leadership experience within a precision manufacturing environment, preferably supporting aerospace or defense production.
• Technical & Operational Experience
• Leadership experience within a CNC machining environment, ideally producing large, tight-tolerance metallic components. Strong preference for metallic machining experience (aluminum highly desired), including 3-axis and 5-axis milling and large gantry equipment. Familiarity with automated or semi-automated manufacturing equipment; broader automation experience may be considered in lieu of direct machining exposure. Experience managing multi-step manufacturing routings and complex production flows. Working knowledge of downstream processes including deburring, finishing, forming, welding coordination, heat treat, and assembly operations.
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• This leader will be expected to champion a culture of continuous improvement across operations. Experience should include implementation and sustainment of 5S workplace organization, improving flow of product and manufacturing lead time, cycle time reduction and machining efficiency improvements, setup reduction (SMED) initiatives, preventative maintenance program development, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) systems, Kaizen event leadership, and use of operational metrics such as OEE, spindle utilization, and labor efficiency to drive performance.
• Leadership Traits
• Hands-on, shop-floor engaged leadership style. Strong mechanical and process intuition. Data-driven decision making. Experience building high-performance manufacturing teams. Relentless focus on safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Proven change agent capable of leading Lean transformation.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline required — or equivalent combination of education and a minimum of 10 years of relevant manufacturing leadership experience.
• MBA, MS, or other advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including oversight of complex production environments.

BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement *

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform servicemember status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.