Manufacturing Operations Manager

This role will lead the manufacturing and supply chain activities required to transition specialized electronic hardware from development into consistent, scalable production. Working across contract manufacturers, suppliers, engineering, internal operations, and leadership, you will oversee production schedules, material availability, supplier performance, quality, and manufacturing risks. Key Responsibilities Manage strategic relationships with contract manufacturers and suppliers, including sourcing, RFQs, purchasing, commercial terms, capacity, quality, and ongoing performance. Build and manage production schedules and manufacturing plans across external partners and internal assembly operations, tracking commitments and addressing schedule risks. Ensure availability of critical, long-lead, and constrained components through demand forecasting, inventory planning, and proactive shortage mitigation. Coordinate internal assembly, testing, packaging, and shipment activities to ensure completed hardware is delivered on schedule. Lead new product introduction (NPI) efforts, transitioning hardware from engineering builds through validation, initial production, and volume manufacturing. Partner with engineering to improve design for manufacturability, production yield, engineering-change execution, and recurring quality issues. Establish and maintain manufacturing procedures, work instructions, production documentation, and quality processes that enable repeatable and scalable production. Identify manufacturing, sourcing, capacity, quality, and delivery risks and drive cross-functional mitigation and recovery plans. Create clear reporting and communication processes that provide leadership and stakeholders with visibility into production status, material constraints, supplier performance, and delivery timelines. Incorporate AI-assisted and agentic tools into planning, analysis, documentation, and operational workflows while maintaining accountability for accuracy and quality. Desired Background Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience. 8+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, hardware program management, manufacturing project management, or supply chain, including substantial contract manufacturing responsibility. Proven experience manufacturing electronic or electromechanical products, including PCBs, circuit-board assemblies, or complex hardware systems. Strong track record managing production schedules, material requirements, inventory, suppliers, and delivery commitments. Experience taking hardware products from early builds through qualification, validation, and higher-volume production. Strong knowledge of purchasing, demand planning, forecasting, BOMs, inventory management, and supplier operations. Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate across engineering, suppliers, manufacturing partners, operations, and leadership. Willingness to travel to supplier and manufacturing facilities as needed. Comfortable using AI-assisted and agentic productivity tools to improve day-to-day planning and operational execution. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Additional Experience Familiarity with quality management systems and manufacturing standards, including ISO 9001. Experience with products requiring security, regulatory, or industry-specific certifications. Experience transitioning low-volume or manual production into standardized, scalable manufacturing processes. Track record of improving manufacturing yield, production consistency, supplier quality, and operational efficiency in rapidly growing environments.