Manufacturing Operations Lead

Pursuit Aerospace • Prescott, AZ

15d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a skilled Manufacturing Operations Lead to join our aerospace manufacturing team. The Manufacturing Operations Lead oversees the daily operations of aerospace manufacturing processes to ensure the efficient production of high-quality aerospace components and assemblies. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising production activities to meet customer requirements, quality standards, safety regulations, and delivery schedules. The manager leads a team of production supervisors and operators in a high-precision, regulated manufacturing environment

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing leadership role, preferably in the aerospace or defense industry.
• Strong knowledge of aerospace manufacturing standards, processes, machine tool and cycle times and regulatory compliance (e.g., AS9100, NADCAP).
• Proven experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., job boss, visuals).
• Proficient in lean manufacturing tools and techniques (e.g., 5S, value stream mapping, SPC).
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a small-to-mid-size aerospace machine shop environment.
• Lean/Kaizen manufacturing or continuous improvement training.
• Experience leading supervisors or team leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily shop floor operations including machining, finishing, inspection, and support functions.
• Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining aerospace quality and safety standards.
• Monitor workflow, capacity, and labor utilization; adjust priorities as needed to meet customer commitments.
• Assist in capacity planning, resource allocation, and capital equipment investment decisions.
• Conduct daily production meetings, shift handoffs, and Gemba walks.
• Analyze production data, prepare performance reports, and present updates to Site Leader
• Champion a strong safety culture; ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety policies.
• Enforce use of PPE, safe work practices, and proper machine operation.
• Support and participate in safety audits, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100/ISO requirements, customer specifications, and internal procedures.
• Partner with Quality to address nonconformances, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions.
• Promote right-first-time manufacturing and accountability for quality at the operator level.
• Lead, coach, and support supervisors, leads, and hourly employees.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, and cross-training of production staff.
• Conduct performance feedback, support corrective action processes, and recognize strong performance.
• Actively participate in Kaizen and continuous improvement activities to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Support Lean manufacturing and Kaizen initiatives to improve workflow, reduce scrap and rework, and increase throughput.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Identify and implement process improvements to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and HR to resolve production issues.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), process changes, and customer requirements.
• Communicate production status, risks, and improvement opportunities to leadership.
• Collaborate with KPO Leader, engineering, quality assurance, supply chain, and maintenance teams to resolve production issues and improve processes
• Prioritize daily production activities and resource allocation.
• Recommend staffing adjustments, overtime, and training needs.
• Stop production when safety or quality is at risk.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.

Benefits

• Pursuit Aerospace also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements, among other things.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees