Director of Fuse Manufacturing

AEMI Holdings•San Diego, CA

13h•Onsite

About The Position

AEMI, an AEM company, is a leading manufacturer of high-reliability electronic components specializing in circuit protection, power conditioning, and radio frequency (RF) components. With a solid global presence, AEMI serves mission-critical industries such as aerospace and defense and the industrial and automotive sectors. Our commitment to innovation and quality has positioned us as a preferred supplier for highly engineered solutions in harsh environments. The Director of Fuse Manufacturing is responsible for leading the manufacturing operation for a high-reliability electronic component product line to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across production planning, process and quality performance, workforce development, budget management, and data-driven continuous improvement to ensure efficient execution and compliance with aerospace and defense requirements. The position partners closely with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and other cross-functional teams to align operational capabilities with customer needs and business goals, and plays a key role in developing and maturing the manufacturing organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience in a relevant operations leadership role may be considered.
Progressive manufacturing leadership experience in high-reliability electronics or a comparable regulated, highly engineered manufacturing environment, including responsibility for a production team or value stream.
Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build, motivate, and develop cross-functional teams and influence at all levels of the organization.
Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and using operational data to drive measurable gains in quality, cost, cycle time, and delivery.
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical and operational information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong business and financial acumen, with experience owning an operating budget and operational performance metrics.
Highly organized, analytical, and results-driven, with a demonstrated ability to use data and metrics to identify, diagnose, and resolve complex operational and process issues with a sense of urgency and ownership.
Consistent attendance and punctuality are essential requirements for this role.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (e.g., MBA or MS) a plus.
Hands-on experience in the manufacturing and testing of high-reliability electronic components.
Working familiarity with high-reliability electronic components and circuit protection fundamentals—enough to lead technical teams, ask the right questions, and partner effectively with engineering and quality.
Experience manufacturing to aerospace and defense requirements and familiarity with applicable quality standards (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001) and government contracting environments.
Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence certification (e.g., Green/Black Belt) and demonstrated success leading continuous improvement and automation initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and direction for the manufacturing operation of a high-reliability electronic component product line, setting clear expectations, establishing measurable goals, and driving accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.
Own the operating plan and budget for the product line; develop and manage production schedules and capacity plans to meet program demands and delivery commitments, optimizing throughput, balancing workload, and minimizing bottlenecks while maintaining flexibility.
Analyze capacity requirements, equipment utilization, and workforce allocation to ensure efficient resource deployment.
Direct manufacturing quality to meet stringent aerospace, defense, and other high-reliability standards. Partner with Quality to maintain and improve quality systems, monitor defect and yield trends, and lead root cause investigations and corrective actions to resolve non-conformances, ensuring product reliability and customer satisfaction.
Drive a continuous improvement agenda (Lean, Six Sigma, and process technology) to improve cost, cycle time, yield, and on-time delivery. Use operational data and metrics to identify improvement opportunities, establish and track KPIs, and lead structured problem-solving and operational reviews.
Enforce compliance with all applicable occupational health, safety, and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, and local requirements), fostering a culture of safety awareness and risk prevention. Lead incident investigations, safety audits, and employee training to maintain a safe, compliant, and efficient manufacturing environment.
Lead the implementation and sustainment of 6S practices to maintain an organized, clean, and safe workplace, reinforcing standards for sorting, setting in order, shining, standardizing, sustaining, and safety to support operational efficiency, reduce hazards, and improve consistency.
Lead, coach, and develop the manufacturing team, including supervisors and production staff. Establish training, qualification, and certification programs and cross-training to improve workforce capability, flexibility, and resilience.
Partner with Engineering and Quality to review customer contracts and technical requirements, support new product introduction (NPI) and transition to production, and ensure production capabilities, timelines, and quality expectations are clearly understood and integrated into planning and execution.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Planning, Program Management, Sales, and Finance to align operational capability with customer demand, business goals, and financial targets.