Plant Operations Manager

Job Title: Operations Manager EMS Manufacturing

Location: Palatine IL (On-site Full-Time)
Company: Aimtron Corporation
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
About Aimtron Corporation
Aimtron Corporation is a rapidly growing Electronic Design & Manufacturing Services (EDMS) company specializing in electronics design PCB assembly system integration and full-scale manufacturing solutions. We support customers across industrial medical and technology sectors with a strong focus on quality agility and innovation.
We are seeking an experienced hands-on Operations Manager to lead manufacturing operations at our Palatine IL facility.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) the Operations Manager will have full responsibility for end-to-end manufacturing operations at the Palatine facility. This role requires strong leadership deep technical expertise in electronics manufacturing and the ability to drive operational excellence in a fast-paced EMS environment.
This is a 100% on-site role and requires daily presence at the Palatine location.
Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all manufacturing operations including SMT through-hole mechanical assembly box build testing and final integration
• Own production planning scheduling capacity planning and workforce optimization
• Drive on-time delivery quality productivity and cost efficiency
• Partner closely with the COO and cross-functional leaders in Engineering Quality Supply Chain and Program Management
• Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives
• Establish monitor and improve KPIs (yield scrap efficiency cycle time OTD)
• Manage and develop manufacturing supervisors leads and production teams
• Oversee NPI (New Product Introduction) process validation and ramp-up activities
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements internal SOPs and industry standards
• Maintain a safe organized and compliant manufacturing environment

Required Technical Expertise

• Strong hands-on knowledge of SMT manufacturing including:
  • Solder paste printing
  • Pick-and-place operations
  • Reflow soldering
• Experience with Through-Hole Assembly (THT) wave and selective soldering
• Proficiency with AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) and defect analysis
• Experience with mechanical assembly box build and system-level integration
• Understanding of ECN (Engineering Change Notice) implementation and control
• Familiarity with test processes including ICT functional testing and final inspection
• Knowledge of IPC standards (IPC-A-610 preferred)

Qualifications & Experience

• 7 years of leadership experience in an EMS / electronics manufacturing environment
• Proven ability to lead in-person manufacturing teams
• Strong problem-solving organizational and communication skills
• Experience in high-mix low-to-medium volume manufacturing preferred
• Bachelors degree in Engineering Operations or related field (preferred)

Compensation

• Salary Range: $85000 $100000 annually (based on experience)
• Competitive benefits and long-term growth opportunities

Why Join Aimtron Corporation

• Direct visibility and partnership with executive leadership
• Opportunity to lead and scale operations in a growing EMS organization
• Hands-on role with meaningful impact on manufacturing performance