Production Supervisor

At Arete, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation's most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.

Discover your future with us.

As Production Supervisor, you are responsible for the hands-on execution and coordination of day-to-day production activities supporting laser and optical system builds in an AS9100-certified environment. This role focuses on schedule adherence, material readiness, kitting flow, MRB coordination, and capacity tracking to ensure builds progress without interruption. The role emphasizes ownership, urgency, and practical problem-solving. In this role, you will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team, including Production, Program Management, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Materials, and Purchasing. You will be responsible for ensuring all orders are delivered on time while maintaining strict compliance with Arete's Quality Management System. This is a full-time, exempt, supervisory position based in our Niwot, CO office.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Own daily production execution and schedule adherence.
• Generate and coordinate kitting schedule in coordination with the Materials Planner to ensure continuous production flow and timely delivery to the customer. Work with Materials Planner to monitor and minimize material shortages.
• Lead effort to evaluate material readiness for production and drive actions to mature the readiness as needed.
• Track manufacturing orders and resolve blockers.
• Support nonconformance routing and closure. Actively participate in Material Review Board meetings, providing Production input to help drive decisions.
• Maintain visibility into capacity constraints, monitoring and tracking cycle times for assembly and test processes. Provide real-time visibility into production constraints and escalate risks early.
• Work with technicians and Engineering to resolve issues.
• Actively participate in Change Review Board meetings, providing production input to help drive decisions.
• Ensure documentation aligns with QMS requirements.
• Co-ordinate and track on the job training for production personnel, ensuring individuals working on the hardware are properly trained and certified.
• Communicate production status and risks.
• Identify and lead implementation of approved workflow improvements.
• Support audits and compliance activities, including compiling and presenting evidence of compliance to production processes during audits.
• Track production metrics, including on time delivery, first pass yield/customer acceptance, and others that may be identified.

We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:

Generous PTO and Leave Times

• Flextime Scheduling
• Bereavement
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Parental Leave

Financial Benefits

• Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan
• Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Continuing Education Assistance

Health, Medical, and Wellness Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Vision Reimbursement

What We Value:

• Creativity and innovation in solving challenges
• Integrity and responsibility in all actions
• Collaboration across teams and specialties
• Responsiveness in fast-paced environments
• Passion for national security and excellence

Experiences and Background We Look For (Required Skills):

• 5+ years of relevant experience
• Experience in a production or manufacturing environment
• Strong task execution and scheduling discipline
• Organizational and prioritization skills
• Technical problem-solving ability
• Cross-functional collaboration capability
• Basic familiarity with production workflows
• Communication and reporting skills
• MS Office proficiency

Nice to Have (Preferred Skills):

• Experience with precision laser or optical assembly manufacturing is highly desirable
• Technical understanding of lasers, optical systems and sensors
• Experience transitioning product from prototype to production
• MRP

The salary range for this role is $90,000 to $125,000; however, Arete considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Other Considerations

Arete is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration.

Arete is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.


Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.

Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Arete will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Arete Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance.