Production Manager - 2nd Shift

Luna Innovations Leadership Role

Full-Time · On-site · PM hours targeting approximately 11:00 AM–8:00 PM

Salary Range: $120,000.00 To $135,000.00 Annually

Luna Innovations Incorporated (Luna) is a global leader in fiber optic test and measurement and distributed sensing, trusted by aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, research institutions, and commercial operators worldwide. We are a team of innovators who engineer, manufacture, and relentlessly pursue quality, driven by a shared commitment to exceeding our customers' expectations.

Our Chino, CA location develops and manufactures precision optical polarization components, modules, and test equipment critical to optical communications, silicon photonics testing, and fiber optic sensing applications worldwide.

This role owns full production performance for Chino's 2nd shift: output, quality, safety, and people leadership across Team Leads and technicians manufacturing Chino's polarization and optical/photonics test and measurement products. This is an office-based leadership role, not a production floor position, though it requires regular, hands-on presence on the floor to directly supervise 2nd shift activity. It carries high-visibility scope, reporting directly to the VP of Operations, with room to grow into broader accountability spanning shift-level P&L, cross-site coordination, and site strategic planning as Chino's needs evolve. Travel is minimal, generally under 10%.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the 2nd shift production plan: scheduling and assigning personnel, establishing priorities, monitoring progress, revising schedules, and reporting shift production summaries against throughput, quality/yield, on-time delivery, and scrap targets.
• Directly supervise 2nd shift Team Leads and technicians; hire, train, and develop staff; ensure clean handoffs with 1st shift leadership on WIP, quality holds, and priority changes.
• Maintain workflow by monitoring process steps and control points, implementing cost reductions, and driving continuous improvement on the floor.
• Lead department goals for safety, quality, and operations while maximizing 2nd shift output; own shift-level safety compliance, incident response, and environmental/health regulation adherence.
• Partner with Quality to sustain calibration and inspection standards and drive non-conformance/corrective action closure on shift.
• Ensure equipment uptime by coordinating repairs and evaluating new equipment and techniques with Engineering; maintain working relationships across departments to keep them informed of manufacturing issues.
• Resolve personnel problems by analyzing data, investigating issues, and recommending action; manage staffing, scheduling, and overtime for 2nd shift in partnership with HR.
• Serve as a key point of contact for 2nd shift operations.
• Coach and develop Team Leads, with direct input into their performance management and growth.

Growth Opportunities

• Build relationships with other Luna manufacturing locations and business unit leadership as the role develops.
• Contribute to site leadership planning and P&L reporting (pricing, gross margin, manufacturing variances, OpEx), staffing ratios, and capacity planning for 2nd shift, depending on evolving site needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in operations, engineering, or business, or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5–7 years in manufacturing supervision/management, in electronics, optical, or similarly regulated/high-mix precision manufacturing.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, fabrication methods, and tool design; familiarity with optical and electronics manufacturing equipment and quality assurance techniques.
• Proven experience leading through Team Leads/supervisors, not just individual technicians; strong interpersonal communication and teamwork skills.
• Track record with lean/continuous improvement methodology and project management in a growth or high-mix production environment.
• Familiarity with quality systems in a precision manufacturing setting (calibration, inspection, non-conformance processes).
• Commitment to health and safety standards and environmental regulations.
• Experience with NetSuite and/or Salesforce a plus.
• Strong self-starter with problem-solving ability.
• Ability to work a later-hours shift (approximately 11:00 AM–8:00 PM) consistently, with periodic overlap into 1st shift/site leadership hours as needed.

Physical / Work Environment

This is an office-based role supporting manufacturing operations, requiring regular, recurring presence on the production floor to oversee 2nd shift activity, monitor operations, and engage directly with Team Leads and technicians.

Competitive compensation & benefits: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus a company-sponsored 401(k) with employer match

Direct impact: you'll own production performance for an entire shift, your leadership will directly shape output, quality, and safety on the floor

Growth trajectory: room to grow into broader P&L and strategic scope as the site evolves

Collaborative team: you'll be part of a site leadership team that values expertise, initiative, and getting things done

Southern California location: Chino, CA offers an affordable cost of living relative to the broader LA metro, with easy access to outdoor recreation, a diverse community, and all that Southern California has to offer

This role is based on-site in Chino, CA. Travel is minimal, generally under 10%, primarily for occasional coordination with other Luna sites.

Luna Innovations is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Luna provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, or veteran status. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. Luna expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment or discrimination.