Director of Opertations

Job Title: Director of Operations
Reports To: VP Operations
Location: Orange County CA

What Were Looking For (Overview)
Company is seeking a hands-on strategic Director of Operations to lead and scale operations for a manufacturer of highly engineered power and communications solutions serving the commercial military and space industries. This leader will be responsible for driving operational performance across production materials planning supply chain facilities and continuous improvement in a fast-paced high-reliability manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of executive-level leadership and day-to-day operational discipline with experience in aerospace defense RF/microwave electronics satellite communications or other highly regulated advanced manufacturing settings. This individual will know how to build structure improve visibility elevate execution and partner cross-functionally to support growth quality and on-time delivery. This positioning aligns with the companys public market profile and with comparable operations leadership roles across aerospace/defense manufacturers.

What Youll Be Doing / A Day In The Life (Responsibilities / Scope of Position)

• Lead day-to-day operations across manufacturing production assembly test materials planning inventory facilities and related operational functions.
• Build a high-accountability operating cadence around safety quality on-time delivery productivity and cost performance.
• Partner closely with Engineering Quality Supply Chain Finance and executive leadership to align capacity material readiness production priorities and customer commitments.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives that improve throughput efficiency schedule attainment inventory accuracy and overall plant performance.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and dashboards for operational health including on-time delivery cycle time backlog labor efficiency scrap/rework inventory turns and forecast-to-build alignment.
• Strengthen ERP/MRP discipline production planning and execution processes to improve visibility and decision-making.
• Lead materials and supply chain coordination to reduce shortages improve supplier responsiveness and support predictable production flow.
• Oversee production scheduling and resource allocation to ensure customer requirements are met while balancing labor equipment and working capital.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement using Lean Six Sigma 5S and other structured problem-solving methods.
• Ensure operations are executed in compliance with applicable quality regulatory and customer standards associated with aerospace/defense and space-related manufacturing environments.
• Support new product introduction and transition-to-production efforts to ensure manufacturability scalability and operational readiness.
• Develop and mentor leaders and teams across operations building a culture centered on execution collaboration accountability and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a visible operational leader on the floor as well as at the leadership table helping the organization scale effectively while maintaining high standards of quality and reliability.

Whats Required (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Operations Supply Chain Business or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• 10 years of progressive operations leadership experience in aerospace defense RF/microwave electronics satellite communications or other complex electromechanical manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience leading manufacturing operations in a high-mix low-to-medium volume setting with demanding quality and delivery expectations.
• Strong background in production materials planning inventory and supply chain coordination.
• Experience implementing and driving KPI-based management systems daily operating rhythms and cross-functional accountability.
• Demonstrated success improving on-time delivery throughput inventory management and cost performance through process discipline and continuous improvement.
• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and the operational rigor required to support scalable manufacturing.
• Familiarity with regulated quality systems and compliance frameworks commonly found in aerospace and defense manufacturing environments including AS9100 and export-controlled or customer-driven requirements.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence across engineering quality finance and executive teams.
• Experience building coaching and developing teams through growth change and operational transformation.
• Excellent communication analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Lean / Six Sigma training or certification is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting products involving RF/microwave power electronics or other highly engineered technical assemblies is strongly preferred.

What Were Offering (Compensation)

• Competitive base salary
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical coverage life insurance 401(k) disability coverage paid time off and company-paid holidays
• Opportunity to join a growing innovative manufacturer serving mission-critical commercial defense and space applications