Site Manager

Job Description

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Site Manager to lead day-to-day operations at a growing space and defense manufacturer's Seattle-area site, supporting approximately 500 employees. This is a highly visible role with substantial customer interface: the Site Manager will carry P&L-style accountability for the site as an independent cost center and partner closely with Engineering and Program Management to drive execution and growth.

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This is not a pure production environment — the site is primarily focused on design, analysis, and test work, so the ideal candidate brings both operational rigor and genuine comfort leading engineering-driven, development-stage work.

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Responsibilities

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• Serve as the on-site day-to-day leader, with P&L-style ownership of the site as an independent cost center.
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• Oversee a design, analysis, and test-heavy operation — bring engineering-ops experience, development-program leadership, and rapid prototyping chops, not just steady-state manufacturing management.
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• Partner with Engineering and Program Management under a functional matrix structure — understand development and new product integration well enough to lead it, not just run production.
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• Carry a heavy customer-facing load, with significant time in design and program reviews (PDRs, CDRs) and proposal activity — expect this to run 25%+ of the week under normal conditions.
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• Review and sign off on a high volume of proposals weekly (program capture itself is handled elsewhere).
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• Grow into broader multi-site oversight over time as the right fit develops — not a day-one expectation, but a real path for the right leader.
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Qualifications

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• Bachelor of Science required; Master's degree a plus.
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• 15+ years of experience in an aerospace and defense engineering and manufacturing environment.
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• Proven experience leading program execution and operations within a Space, Missile, Defense, or Hypersonics environment.
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• Experience managing a P&L or an independent cost-center-level budget.
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• Comfort operating across engineering, program, and production disciplines — composites, metallics, and electromechanical systems.
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• Demonstrated success leading in a highly matrixed organization.
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• Experience with Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, or equivalent operational excellence frameworks.
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• Solid ERP experience, including integration and implementation.
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• Strong track record driving and sustaining operational growth.
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• Heavy compliance and AS9100 quality systems experience.
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Preferred Qualifications

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• Experience in high-temperature composites, propulsion, or ablatives.
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• Prior exposure to energetics or missile/munitions manufacturing environments.
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• Active or recent Secret security clearance.
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• Business development experience alongside operations.
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Salary: $200,000 - $225,000

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