Manufacturing Operations Lead

Seneca•Sausalito, CA

5d•$75,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Seneca is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Lead to establish and manage the manufacturing system for producing aircraft at increasing volumes. This role involves creating and executing a production plan encompassing material requirements, procurement, inventory, build schedules, staffing, work instructions, assembly, testing, and aircraft release. The Lead will transition final assembly and test into a dedicated production operation, ensuring all necessary resources (materials, tooling, documentation, personnel, quality controls) are available. This is a hands-on position where the Lead will directly participate in aircraft assembly and testing, using this experience to develop practical work instructions, enhance production processes, and provide feedback to Engineering for design improvements. The goal is to implement appropriate structure for safety, quality, traceability, and predictability without over-engineering for high-volume production on a rapidly evolving product. The Lead will serve as the central point of contact for production readiness, coordinating with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Test, Launch, and external suppliers. They will also develop the manufacturing operating system, including MES, inventory controls, production schedules, standard work, readiness gates, and metrics, to ensure repeatable and scalable aircraft builds.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, production management, supply chain, industrial operations, or a similar role.
Experience scaling a complex physical product from prototype or low-rate production into a repeatable manufacturing operation, with the willingness and ability to work hands-on in assembly and test.
Hands-on experience with production planning, inventory management, procurement, and manufacturing systems such as MES or ERP.
Strong cross-functional planning, risk management, and execution skills.
The ability to turn ambiguous production goals into detailed, actionable processes and operating rhythms.
Experience building and leading teams of assemblers, technicians, or other production personnel.
A practical understanding of manufacturing quality, configuration control, traceability, process documentation, and end-of-line testing—and the judgment to apply the right level of process for a low-rate, rapidly evolving product.
A high level of ownership, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Comfort working in a fast-moving environment where both the product and the manufacturing process are still evolving.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aviation, drones, robotics, aerospace, complex electromechanical assembly, battery systems, high-voltage systems, production test, supplier management, or lean manufacturing is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

Own manufacturing operations from the production plan through final assembly, test, and aircraft release to flight test.
Translate company delivery and launch commitments into an integrated production schedule, including milestones, dependencies, owners, risks, and critical path.
Maintain clear, current communication on production status, material readiness, risks, decisions, and open actions.
Establish and maintain a manufacturing execution system appropriate to our scale and product maturity, including production records, routings, work instructions, travelers, part and serial-number traceability, test results, rework, and aircraft configuration history.
Own inventory management and material readiness.
Work hands-on in aircraft assembly and test to develop production flow, workstation layout, tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and standard processes.
Translate build-floor observations into actionable design-for-assembly and design-for-test feedback for Engineering.
Build, train, and lead a dedicated final assembly and test team.
Establish appropriate incoming inspection, in-process checks, end-of-line testing, and release criteria.
Drive timely resolution of nonconformances, rework, recurring defects, and production blockers.
Coordinate a defined handoff of completed and tested aircraft to the Launch Program Manager and customer deployment team.
Feed recurring manufacturing issues and lessons learned back into Product, Engineering, Quality, and supplier decisions.