Production Manager - Defense

Job Description

Job Description

Production Manger | Oxygen Systems Pennsauken, NJ · On-site

COMPANY PROFILE This company is a global leader in parachute design and manufacturing, with a foundation of over 100 years designing, developing, and fabricating parachutes for military, space, and defense customers — including personnel and cargo parachute systems, GPS precision-guided cargo delivery, space and air vehicle recovery systems, and oxygen systems. This company played a key role in the safe return of a NASA crewed spaceflight mission, whose eleven-parachute recovery system slowed the capsule to approximately 20 miles per hour at splashdown, and recently delivered a next-generation oxygen supply system upgrade for an international defense customer.

POSITION SUMMARY The Production Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the oxygen systems production cell, supplying the oxygen sources military personnel need when jumping from high altitudes. This is a hands-on, floor-level leadership role at the company's Pennsauken, New Jersey facility, focused on team performance and on-time delivery, with strong potential for growth into broader site leadership over time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES ● Lead day-to-day operations of the oxygen systems assembly cell, including scheduling, workload balancing, and overtime management. ● Own cell-level performance metrics, including direct labor, overtime, and on-time delivery, and drive consistent achievement against targets. ● Establish production priorities and allocate labor, materials, and equipment to meet delivery commitments, identifying risks and implementing recovery plans as needed. ● Coach, mentor, and develop the technician and engineering team; conduct performance reviews and manage day-to-day employee relations. ● Ensure compliance with clean-room, contamination-control, and quality procedures during assembly, pressurization, and testing. ● Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve production and technical issues. ● Build credibility with a long-tenured team by learning existing processes and relationships before driving change. ● Support periodic domestic travel for supplier visits, product testing, and customer meetings as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS  Required ● Military background strongly preferred, given the company's predominantly military customer base; prior service, including former junior military officers, is a significant plus. ● Some hands-on manufacturing or production leadership experience, industry-agnostic — aerospace or defense experience not required. ● Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions. ● High energy, self-directed, and results-oriented, comfortable driving outcomes without close daily oversight. ● Strong people leadership, coaching, and emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust with an established team before introducing change.

Preferred ● General business MBA is a plus. ● Experience in a regulated or process-driven manufacturing environment. ● Prior experience supervising production/manufacturing employees.

COMPENSATION Base salary range of $140,000–$160,000. Relocation assistance may be available.