Director of Production (Defense/Aerospace)

CoAspire is a cutting-edge defense manufacturing leader in Northern Virginia, specializing in the precision assembly of advanced weapons systems. With over thirteen years of a legacy of innovation, we're at the forefront of building reliable, affordable mass weapons that protect and empower our nation's warfighters. Our tight-knit team thrives in a collaborative environment where safety, quality, and work-life balance come first with a focus on professional growth at our new 27,000+ sq. ft. facility. Join us to make a tangible impact on mission-critical technology while enjoying Northern Virginia's vibrant community.

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Position

You will be the manufacturing engineering authority for a weapon-system production line. You will set process, tooling, layout, and work-instruction standards; drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and provide technical direction to manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, and technicians. You will work side-by-side with the Director of Production Operation on rate, staffing, quality, cost and issue resolution as the line moves from low-rate toward full-rate production. You will own how the line is built, how work is documented in our ERP, and how rate, yield, and cost improve as volume grows.

Location

Manassas, VA

Responsibilities:

• Own assembly processes, work instructions, tooling and fixture requirements, BOM, routings, and ERP master data for the production line.
• Lay out the line: material flow, workstation design, line balance, and capacity so monthly rate and yield targets are achievable.
• Lead cycle-time, labor-hour, first-pass yield, and recurring-cost reduction — with measured results.
• Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and value engineering with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering so producibility is designed in, not inspected in.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to manufacturing technicians and support staff; help hire the next wave of production talent.
• Represent manufacturing in customer and leadership reviews on rate, cost, quality, and technical risk.
• Keep the line compliant with AS9100D, ITAR, DFARS, safety, and customer requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• U.S. citizenship. Current Secret clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of manufacturing, process, or industrial engineering on complex electro-mechanical hardware — aerospace, defense, munitions, aircraft or spacecraft assembly, or similarly regulated precision production.
• Demonstrated experience helping a product move from prototype or LRIP toward sustained rate (cycle time, yield, capacity, or cost). You do not need to have been the single owner of a full FRP ramp.
• Working knowledge of a certified quality system in production (AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent).
• Comfortable on the factory floor and in front of leadership and customers. Able to make technical trade-off recommendations with data.

Desired Skills:

• Led or been a core member of a team that took a defense or aerospace line from low rate through full rate production.
• Formal people leadership (supervisor or manager of engineers/technicians). Technical leadership of a cell or NPI team is sufficient for this variant.
• AS9100D audit participation, quality procedure ownership, or Manufacturing Readiness (MRL/MRA) experience.
• ERP master-data ownership (MBOM, routings, work centers) and facility/layout tools (AutoCAD or equivalent).
• Lean Six Sigma applied to assembly (not only training certificates).

What We Offer:

Beyond competitive pay, we offer:

• Full benefits from first of month following hire: medical, dental and vision
• 401(k) with generous company match and immediate vesting
• PTO and Federal holidays

The anticipated salary range for this position is $170,000-$220,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.

Apply now! We're reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Let's build the future together. xhyhwjd No agencies, please.

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