Operations Manager

About Standard Bots

Standard Bots is a New York-based robotics company building AI-powered six-axis robot arms designed and manufactured in the United States. Founded to make industrial automation more accessible and affordable, Standard Bots takes a vertically integrated approach - developing its own hardware, software, vision system, and electronics - so manufacturers of all sizes can deploy robots without specialized expertise or coding skills. Standard Bots' robots are trusted by organizations ranging from independent machine shops to NASA and Lockheed Martin. Standard Bots is the largest U.S. industrial robotics company by robots shipped and one of the fastest-growing in the industry.

Location

This role is onsite 5 days/week onsite in our South East PA shop

Role overview

As Operations Manager, you are the person who keeps our shop running. You'll own the day-to day operation of our build facility in South-East Pennsylvania - managing machine builds, coordinating our team of technicians, overseeing procurement, and ensuring the building and its equipment are maintained and compliant. You're the connective tissue between engineering plans and physical execution. You're as comfortable in a planning meeting reviewing a build schedule as you are walking the shop floor troubleshooting a bottleneck. You operate with urgency, hold a high bar for organization and safety, and take genuine ownership of outcomes. You build processes that stick - not just fire-fight.

What you'll do

Shop & Build Operations
• Manage the daily operation of the build shop: scheduling, floor organization, tool and equipment readiness, and team utilization
• Own the machine build schedule in coordination with engineering and implementation leads - track progress against milestones and identify risks early
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized shop environment. Enforce 5S standards and build a culture where safety is non-negotiable
• Manage shop tools, equipment, and consumable inventory. Oversee equipment maintenance schedules and coordinate repairs• Drive continuous improvement in build workflows, cell layout, and assembly procedures to increase throughput and reduce rework

Procurement & Vendor Management
• Own end-to-end procurement for all shop materials, hardware components, and capital equipment
• Source and qualify vendors. Negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms across a portfolio of suppliers
• Manage purchase orders and align procurement activity with project build schedules and inventory targets
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure reliable supply and quick escalation paths when issues arise
• Track procurement spend and maintain visibility into cost-per-build metrics over time

Facilities & Building Operations
• Oversee all aspects of facility management: routine maintenance, utilities, and building compliance
• Manage relationships with facilities contractors including HVAC, electrical, and janitorial services
• Coordinate facility improvements, new equipment installations, and workspace reconfigurations to support the team's growth
• Ensure the facility meets all relevant OSHA, building code, and environmental requirements; manage inspection and compliance documentation

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Coordination
• Directly manage technicians on the shop floor: set daily priorities, manage capacity, and develop team members over time
• Partner closely with Automation Engineers and Machine Designers to align build sequencing, resource allocation, and schedule commitments
• Communicate operational status, schedule risks, and blockers clearly and proactively to company leadership
• Hire and onboard operations staff as the team grows; build the team structure that supports the next stage of scale

Process & Systems Development
• Design and implement operational SOPs, build tracking systems, and workflows that create consistency and scale with volume
• Build and maintain dashboards or reporting for builds, procurement spend, lead times, and facility costs
• Identify bottlenecks across procurement, build, and facilities and drive structured solutions rather than one-off fixes

What you'll bring
• 5+ years of operations experience in a manufacturing, fabrication, systems integration, or technical production environment
• Demonstrated track record managing shop floor operations including build scheduling, team coordination, and throughput accountability
• Experience owning procurement workflows and vendor/supplier relationships, including negotiation and cost management
• Prior experience managing facilities operations including maintenance coordination, contractor management, and compliance oversight
• Experience managing small teams; track record of developing direct reports and building a high-performance team culture

Technical Skills
• Working knowledge of manufacturing and assembly processes relevant to electromechanical systems: mechanical assembly, panel wiring, and integration workflows
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, BOMs, and wiring schematics at a functional level
• Proficiency with procurement tools, ERP/MRP software, or inventory management systems
• Familiarity with OSHA standards, workplace safety requirements, and general building compliance
• Competency in standard business software: spreadsheets, project tracking tools, and documentation platforms

Soft Skills & Mindset
• Strong organizational instincts and bias toward action: you drive clarity, close loops, and hold yourself and others accountable
• Natural leader: you set clear expectations, develop the people around you, and maintain a high bar
• Clear and direct communicator across functions: engineering, leadership, and external vendors
• Systems thinker: you build processes and structures that prevent problems rather than constantly reacting to them
• Hands-on and adaptable: comfortable rolling up your sleeves as well as stepping back to see the bigger picture

Nice to have
• Experience in a robotics, automation, or advanced manufacturing company
• Background in lean manufacturing principles: 5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping, or similar frameworks
• OSHA 30 course or equivalent comprehensive safety training
• Experience setting up or scaling a new manufacturing or integration facility• Familiarity with ERP or MRP systems (NetSuite, Fishbowl, or equivalent)
• Experience managing capital equipment procurement and installation projects
• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $100,000 to $150,000. We are open to a variety of seniority levels for this role and will build compensation packages that are commensurate with seniority and skill level. Base salary is just one part of the overall compensation at Standard Bots. All Full-Time Employees are eligible for Employee Stock Options. We also offer a package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees.