Manager, Additive Manufacturing

Divergent•Long Beach, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies. Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built. Purpose: Own and scale the post-processing value stream that transforms additively manufactured parts into fully qualified material with validated properties. You will lead operations across part removal (bandsaw/EDM), media blast, heat treat, build plate resurfacing, and part inspection, building a disciplined, high-performing organization capable of delivering consistent, certifiable output at scale. This role is well-suited for a leader experienced in high-consequence, procedure-driven environments who can bring structure, accountability, and continuous improvement to a rapidly scaling operation.

Requirements

Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls.
Proven leadership in high-reliability, high-accountability environments.
Strong systems thinker—able to manage complex, interdependent processes with discipline and precision.
Demonstrated ability to build teams, enforce standards, and deliver results under pressure.
High ownership mindset with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.
Experience leading operations, maintenance, or production teams in complex technical environments.
Familiarity with procedure-driven execution, qualification programs, and audit/compliance systems.
Experience managing risk, driving root cause resolution, and improving system reliability.
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
Comfortable operating both on the floor and at the systems level.
Effective communicator across technical and operational teams.

Responsibilities

Own the Value Stream: Serve as the single point of accountability for throughput, quality, and safety across all post-processing operations.
Ensure every part exiting your organization is fully inspected, qualified, and ready for downstream operations with zero defects escaping.
Establish objective metrics (including internal escape rates) and drive performance to world-class standards.
Build & Lead a High-Performance Team: Build, train, and develop a team of technicians and frontline leaders across all work centers.
Establish rigorous training and qualification standards aligned with aerospace and defense expectations.
Develop bench strength and identify successors for key roles.
Drive Process Rigor & Compliance: Deliver a step-change in process robustness across heat treat, media blast, build plate resurfacing, and inspection.
Ensure strict adherence to AS9100, military standards, and all applicable certification requirements.
Implement standardized work, controls, audits, and documentation systems to ensure repeatable execution.
Champion Cost, Throughput, and Efficiency: Identify and lead cost reduction initiatives across labor, equipment utilization, yield, and consumables.
Build a pipeline of high-impact improvements and execute against clear ROI targets.
Develop operational dashboards to enable data-driven decision-making.
Build the Future (Automation & Capability Development): Develop and drive a multi-year roadmap for automation and capability expansion across all work centers.
Evaluate and integrate robotics and automation solutions, including building clear business cases.
Lead initiatives such as: Media blast automation, Build plate resurfacing (equipment selection, commissioning, and integration), Onboarding capability for processing new materials and alloys.
Solve Complex Operational Problems: Identify bottlenecks and failure modes across the full processing chain.
Lead cross-functional problem solving with engineering, quality, and maintenance.
Implement durable corrective actions that improve long-term system performance.