Operations Manager - Advanced Manufacturing

Operations Manager – Advanced Manufacturing

Wisconsin + Relocation Assistance

A growing U.S. manufacturer is seeking a hands-on Operations Manager to help launch, stabilize, and scale a new advanced engine assembly and test facility.

This person will own the production floor from soup to nuts, including assembly cells, test operations, staffing, production planning, maintenance, safety, facility support, workflow, output, and daily execution.

The Operations Manager will initially work as an individual contributor, partnering closely with executive leadership, Engineering, and Quality to establish the site’s operating foundation. As production ramps, this person will build and lead the operations organization and guide the facility from New Product Introduction through low-rate and full-rate production.

Key Responsibilities

• Help stand up assembly, test, production, and facility operations from the ground up

• Establish production workflows, SOPs, process controls, tooling strategies, and test-readiness plans

• Support facility layout, equipment installation, commissioning, and production-cell development

• Own assembly cells, workstations, technician workflows, and production-floor execution

• Partner with Engineering and Quality to identify process mistakes, manufacturing gaps, defects, and sources of variation

• Stabilize first builds and transition prototype activity into repeatable production

• Improve first-pass yield by reducing rework, scrap, defects, and recurring process failures

• Drive root-cause corrective action, standard work, operator training, and process discipline

• Establish and track production metrics, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, yield, cycle time, takt time, and throughput

• Develop production planning, scheduling, material-flow, and workforce-planning systems

• Reduce bottlenecks, balance production lines, improve cycle time, and optimize staffing models

• Lead Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous-improvement initiatives

• Build and lead a high-performing operations team, including assembly and test supervisors, planning, maintenance, EHS&E, and facility-security functions

• Create a culture of accountability, urgency, teamwork, and operational excellence

• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, security, and regulated manufacturing requirements

Ideal Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related field, or equivalent experience

• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience

• Strong background in automotive, powertrain, engine manufacturing, aerospace, or another high-volume, low-mix manufacturing environment

• Deep understanding of cycle time, takt time, line balancing, first-pass yield, throughput, labor utilization, and production flow

• Experience owning assembly cells, production areas, or plant-floor operations

• Demonstrated ability to identify process breakdowns and drive corrective actions

• Strong Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, RCCA, standard-work, and continuous-improvement experience

• Experience transitioning products from NPI into stable production is highly valued

• Proven ability to build processes, teams, and operational systems from the ground up

• Comfortable starting as a hands-on individual contributor before building and leading a larger organization

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to develop supervisors, technicians, and support teams

• Able to make decisions, solve problems, and move the operation forward without requiring heavy direction

• Working knowledge of regulated manufacturing and NIST 800-171 is preferred

• Must be willing to work on-site in Wisconsin

This is an excellent opportunity for an A-player who wants to build the operational backbone of a new facility and lead its progression from initial engine builds through full-rate production.