Director of Operations

Director of Operations

Aeris Technologies is a leading manufacturer of laser gas analyzers serving critical applications in environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and emissions measurement. As part of the Project Canary family since 2022, we combine innovative optical sensing technology with precision manufacturing to deliver industry-leading analytical instruments. We're currently executing a comprehensive transformation to strengthen our operational foundation and accelerate growth.

Aeris is seeking a Director of Operations to lead the commercial and logistical side of our transition from in-house manufacturing to an outsourced production model. This is not a role for someone who builds assembly lines and staffs them — it is a role for someone who looks at every process through the lens of cost, efficiency, and delivery, and asks whether it can be eliminated, automated, or outsourced before accepting it as an in-house activity. You will drive the make/buy/automate analysis from a cost and efficiency perspective, manage contract manufacturing relationships commercially, and build the operational systems that allow Aeris to scale. This position will be on-site at our office in Hayward, California.

Key Responsibilities

• Map every step in the production and test process across all product families. For each step, build a data-driven perspective to eliminate, automate internally, or outsource to a contract manufacturer.
• Build the analytical framework of cost, quality, cycle time, knowledge dependency, strategic value that drives make/buy/automate decisions.
• Identify and challenge processes that add labor cost without adding value. Produce a transition roadmap with timelines, cost projections, and resource requirements.
• Continuously revisit this analysis as products evolve and as automation and CM capabilities mature.
• Own governance of NetSuite item masters, BOM hierarchies, and part numbering standards.
• Maintain reliable WIP tracking and inventory valuation that finance can trust for reporting and planning.
• Execute aggressive inventory burn-down strategy of excess raw materials.
• Manage supplier relationships and competitive bidding processes to drive cost reduction.
• Strengthen quality processes oriented toward Contract Manufacturer readiness: incoming inspection, in-process verification, final test protocols, supplier quality audit capability.
• Maintain and improve current production operations, including meeting output targets and reducing cycle time.
• Own production scheduling and on-time delivery.
• Manage the operations budget with a focus on cost reduction and building the financial case for outsourced manufacturing.
• Coordinate with engineering on NPI production readiness — ensuring new products have cost targets, sourcing plans, and production schedules before launch.
• Partner with the commercial team on order management, lead time commitments, and customer delivery expectations.
• Coordinate with finance on inventory valuation, costing, and operational budgeting.
• Partner with the VP of Engineering to design and implement automated test methods throughout the production process, from incoming raw material QA/QC to product-level final acceptance.
• Ensure test specifications are documented and transferable.
• Work directly with the VP of Engineering to embed Design for Manufacturing, Design for Test, and Design for Automation into the product development process.
• Provide manufacturing and process feedback during engineering stage-gate reviews to catch DFM issues before they reach production.
• Collaborate on SKU rationalization and component standardization to reduce complexity across the product portfolio.
• Work closely with the VP of Engineering on DFM/DFT for new hardware platforms, ensuring manufacturability and testability are designed in.
• Partner with the commercial team on sales & operational planning, demand signals, and warranty/service cost management.
• Coordinate with finance on inventory valuation and operational budgeting.
• Manage the operations budget with a focus on cost reduction and the financial case for outsourced manufacturing.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in precision instruments, scientific equipment, or similar high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.
• Direct experience managing a contract manufacturing transition — from vendor selection through pilot production to full-scale handoff.
• Hands-on experience with NetSuite, including BOM management, WIP tracking, and inventory control.
• Deep understanding of electronic assembly, optical or electromechanical systems integration.
• Experience developing automated test methods and fixtures for production environments.
• MBA or Master's in Engineering/Operations.
• Familiarity with S&OP, demand planning, and sales-operations alignment processes.

Benefits

• Salary range: $150,000 - $180,000 annual base
• Health, dental, and vision insurance with low deductibles and premiums paid by company 99% for self and 50% for dependents and/or spouse
• 401K with company match (no vesting period)
• Student loan assistance
• Generous culture around time off, including:
  • Unlimited PTO
  • 6 days of sick time per year
  • 11 paid company holidays per year
  • up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave (gender neutral) including adoptions

About Project Canary

Project Canary was founded in 2019 with a vision to measure what matters – the greenhouse gases emitted from critical parts of our energy infrastructure. Our team is constantly pushing the envelope to bring more visibility to the emissions problem than ever before – enabling the energy sector to reduce its carbon footprint.

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