Development Manufacturing Manager I/II

Zone 5 Technologies • San Luis, CA

76d • Onsite

About The Position

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter. We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.

Development Manufacturing Manager I: Role Summary: The Development Manufacturing Manager I leads manufacturing execution for new product introduction (NPI), prototype, first-of-kind, and early production hardware across assigned Zone5 programs. This role is responsible for converting evolving engineering designs into safe, executable, and increasingly repeatable manufacturing processes across avionics/electrical and mechanical assembly . The Manager partners closely with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and Program Management to ensure hardware is buildable, resources are aligned, manufacturing risks are identified , and lessons learned are incorporated before transition to recurring production. This role owns development manufacturing execution and manufacturing readiness . It does not own systems engineering, systems integration, product design authority, verification/validation, or Flight Test.

Development Manufacturing Manager II: Role Summary: The Development Manufacturing Manager II provides senior manufacturing leadership across Zone5’s NPI, prototype, first-of-kind, and early production portfolio. This role leads manufacturing execution and capability across multiple programs, platforms, or product families , ensuring Zone5 has the people, processes, tooling, capacity, infrastructure, and manufacturing discipline required to successfully transition new products into repeatable production. The Manager II operates at a broader organizational and portfolio level than the Manager I, balancing near-term program execution with longer-term manufacturing capability, capacity, investment, and production-readiness requirements across avionics/electrical and mechanical assembly. This role owns development manufacturing strategy, execution, readiness, and production transition . It does not own systems engineering, systems integration, product design authority, verification/validation, or Flight Test.

Requirements

• 6–10 years of experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, production, manufacturing engineering, NPI, or prototype manufacturing environments.
• 2–4 years of manufacturing or technical leadership experience.
• Experience supporting complex electromechanical products involving mechanical and/or avionics/electrical assembly.
• Demonstrated experience moving hardware from development or prototype builds toward repeatable production.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing planning, drawings, bills of material, work instructions, tooling, configuration changes, and production execution.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and Program Management.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills in rapidly changing environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering , Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 10–15+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, production, manufacturing engineering, NPI, or prototype manufacturing environments.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including leadership of supervisors, managers, or complex technical/manufacturing organizations.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple products or programs from development manufacturing toward repeatable production.
• Strong experience with complex electromechanical manufacturing involving mechanical and avionics/electrical hardware.
• Demonstrated ability to develop manufacturing capacity, workforce, infrastructure, or investment strategies.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing readiness, NPI, production ramp, capacity planning, manufacturing quality, and operational scaling.
• Proven ability to communicate manufacturing risks, tradeoffs, and investment requirements to Director/VP-level leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering , Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related discipline ; equivalent directly applicable experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

• Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience.
• Experience with ERP and/or MES manufacturing systems.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, DFM/DFA, and manufacturing readiness principles.
• Experience leading simultaneous development builds or multiple programs.
• Significant aerospace or defense manufacturing experience.
• Experience leading multi-program or portfolio-level manufacturing organizations.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems, Lean manufacturing, DFM/DFA, structured problem solving, and manufacturing-readiness assessments.
• Experience developing business cases for manufacturing capital, infrastructure, automation, or capacity investments.
• Master’s degree or MBA.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing execution for prototype, development, first-of-kind, and early production builds across one or more programs.
• Develop build plans, staffing strategies, priorities, and resource requirements in support of program schedules.
• Lead manufacturing readiness activities covering material, tooling, work instructions, equipment, personnel, quality requirements, and production systems.
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly sequence, tooling, processes, and build documentation.
• Identify and escalate manufacturing constraints related to design maturity, material availability, quality, capacity, tooling, or workforce capability.
• Ensure manufacturing issues and lessons learned are documented and incorporated into future builds and production processes.
• Partner with Production and Value Stream leadership to support effective transition from development manufacturing into recurring production.
• Lead and develop Development Manufacturing Supervisors and assigned manufacturing personnel.
• Drive performance across safety, quality, schedule, first-pass yield, rework, build cycle time, material readiness, and manufacturing readiness.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, urgency, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
• Lead Development Manufacturing execution across multiple programs, platforms, or product families.
• Establish common NPI manufacturing practices for build readiness, execution, learning capture, and production transition.
• Balance manufacturing priorities, staffing, specialized resources, equipment, and capacity across competing programs.
• Develop workforce, tooling, equipment, facility, and manufacturing capability plans supporting future program demand.
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to improve manufacturability and ensure manufacturing risks are identified early in product development.
• Establish manufacturing-readiness expectations related to material, documentation, tooling, processes, workforce, quality, and production systems.
• Lead development-to-production transition strategy in partnership with Production and Value Stream leadership.
• Drive organizational learning by ensuring manufacturing lessons and recurring issues are transferred across programs.
• Lead and develop Development Manufacturing Managers, Supervisors, and senior manufacturing personnel.
• Provide senior leadership with clear assessments of manufacturing capacity, readiness, cost, schedule, quality, risk, and investment requirements.
• Drive portfolio-level performance across safety, quality, schedule, first-pass yield, rework, cycle time, capacity, material readiness, and production-transition effectiveness.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package
• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
• 401k with company-match
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year
• 40 hours of sick time
• 12 annual company holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level