Head of Operations - SOMO AI

Goodmachine•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Somo AI is building the next generation of intelligent systems that transform how companies operate at scale. With a globally distributed team and manufacturing footprint spanning the United States, China, and Mexico, we sit at the intersection of cutting-edge AI and real-world physical deployment. As we accelerate toward commercial scale, we are looking for an exceptional operator to lead the engine that makes it all run. The Head of Operations is a senior executive role reporting directly to the CEO. You will own the full operational lifecycle of Somo AI's products — from factory floor to field deployment — across three continents. This is a rare opportunity to build, systematize, and scale operations for an AI. You will be the connective tissue between engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and go-to-market, ensuring that Somo AI's technology reaches customers reliably, on time, and at quality. You will have the support of the operations team that consists of 7 operations team members based in Mexico City (5) and the US (2) while building out a team that can track and deploy each contract for the company.

Requirements

10+ years of operations experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing multi-site, international manufacturing or hardware deployment.
Proven track record managing production operations, with deep understanding of regional manufacturing ecosystems, supplier landscapes, and regulatory environments.
Experience building and executing deployment strategies for complex hardware or hardware- software products at scale.
Strong command of supply chain management, from component sourcing to last-mile delivery, including trade compliance and customs processes.
Analytical rigor — you are comfortable with data, build your own models, and drive decisions from metrics rather than instinct alone.
Entrepreneurial mindset — you have scaled operations in a high-growth or startup environment and know how to build processes from scratch.

Nice To Haves

Spanish language proficiency is a significant advantage.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end production operations across manufacturing sites in China, the United States, and Mexico, ensuring quality, output targets, and lead times are consistently met.
Establish and manage relationships with contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and logistics partners in each region.
Create unified operational frameworks that accommodate local regulatory, cultural, and logistical requirements while maintaining global standards.
Drive continuous improvement programs (lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent) across all production sites to reduce waste, defects, and cycle time.
Build and lead regional operations teams, instilling a culture of accountability, data-driven decision-making, and operational excellence.
Develop and own a comprehensive deployment strategy for Somo AI products, from initial customer onboarding through full-scale rollout.
Define deployment playbooks, success metrics, and escalation processes that enable consistent, repeatable customer experiences globally.
Partner with engineering and product to shape hardware and software releases around operational and deployment realities.
Serve as the operational voice in executive discussions, translating strategic priorities into execution plans with clear milestones and owners.
Collaborate with Finance on COGS optimization, capex planning, and budget management for global operations.
Partner with People/HR to build and retain world-class operations talent across three countries.
Build operational dashboards and reporting cadences that give leadership real-time visibility into production health, deployment status, and KPIs.