Production Manager

Production ManagerLos Angeles, CAGeneral Matter is enriching uranium in America. Our goal is to design, build, and operate the world's lowest-cost enrichment services in the United States. Our mission is to restore America's ability to produce nuclear fuel—fuel that will power AI, advanced manufacturing, critical industries, and the next generation of nuclear reactors. Ultimately, our work will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society. We were incubated by Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by top-tier investors. Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production. We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency. Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable.We're building a new manufacturing facility and looking for a Production Manager to help design and stand it up from the ground up—then run it. This is a rare opportunity to shape a facility's layout, equipment, and systems before it exists, then own daily production execution once it's live, with CNC machining and lathe work as the core of the operation. You'll deploy and grow a machinist and operator team, build the quality and scheduling systems that keep output and first-pass yield on target, and be the person the Plant Manager and leadership count on to get parts out the door. If you want to build a facility instead of just running one, this is that role.ResponsibilitiesPartner with engineering and leadership on the design and build-out of the new manufacturing facility, including floor layout, equipment specification, and utility/infrastructure planning.Own daily production execution once the facility is live—schedule attainment, machinist and operator deployment, CNC program readiness, output, and first-pass quality.Lead CNC machining and lathe operations at scale—machine capacity planning, tooling strategy, and cycle-time optimization.Deploy and cross-train a growing machinist and operator team across fabrication and machining functions.Establish and enforce quality systems, first-pass yield tracking, and 5S/lean discipline at every workstation.Evaluate and manage relationships with equipment vendors and suppliers, from capital equipment procurement through installation and commissioning.Surface production, equipment, and material issues early, and report schedule, output, and risk to the Plant Manager and leadership.Basic QualificationsEvidence of exceptional ability (prior projects, portfolio of work, completed products, etc).Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information.Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience.7+ years leading production operations in a CNC machining and/or lathe-focused manufacturing environment, including direct oversight of machinists and operators.Preferred Skills and ExperienceExperience in a fast-paced engineering or highly technical environment, with a resourceful approach to delivering under tight timelines or budget constraints.Direct experience standing up or scaling a greenfield manufacturing facility.Multi-axis CNC lathe programming and operations experience (live tooling, Swiss-style a plus).Familiarity with MES, ERP, QMS, or CMMS systems for production and quality tracking.Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing / Toyota Production System principles.Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (aerospace, defense, or nuclear) is a plus.Additional RequirementsAbility to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.Equal Opportunity EmployerGeneral Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.Compensation and BenefitsThe base salary range for this role is $120k- $170k annually. Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.