Operations Manager - Hi-Rel

Mini-Circuits • New York, NY

1d

About The Position

Mini-Circuits designs, manufactures and distributes integrated circuits, modules, and sub-systems for high-performance radio frequency (RF) and microwave applications. With design, sales and manufacturing locations in over 30 countries, Mini-Circuits’ products are used in a range of wired and wireless communications applications. Our products are also used in detection, measurement and imaging applications, including military communication, guidance and electronic countermeasure systems, commercial, scientific, military land, sea and aircraft; automotive systems, medical systems, and industrial test equipment.

Mini-Circuits’ sells its products to over 20,000 customers globally through our direct sales force, applications engineering staff, sales representatives, as well as through our extensive website.

Position Summary:
The Operations Manager – Hi-Rel is responsible for leading and scaling all High Reliability (Hi-Rel) and up-screening operations from product inception through final shipment. This role ensures operational excellence, on-time delivery, compliance with stringent reliability standards, and cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and external partners.
This individual will bring deep experience in high-reliability manufacturing environments (e.g., aerospace, defense, and space) and will drive execution, continuous improvement, and strategic growth of Hi-Rel capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• Experience in aerospace, defense, space, or other regulated industries
• Familiarity with ITAR, AS9100, MIL-STD, or similar standards
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma certification
• 8–12+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations, with significant exposure to high-reliability environments
• 3–5+ years in a leadership or management role
• Strong understanding of Hi-Rel and up-screening processes, including: Thermal Shock, Vibration, Mechanical Shock, Burn-in, Life Testing, Environmental Stress Screening (ESS), Radiographic Inspection, C-SAM, and related methods
• Familiarity with reliability principles (e.g., bathtub curve, failure modes, life studies)
• Hands-on SAP experience required (production planning, WIP tracking, reporting, and data analysis)
• Experience with PLM systems (e.g., Smartsheet, Arena PLM preferred)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis
• Strong project management skills (PMP preferred)
• Strategic thinker with strong execution focus
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple complex programs simultaneously
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making capability in fast-paced environments

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree
• PMP certification
• Experience with Arena PLM

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Hi-Rel operations including production, screening, testing, and shipment readiness
• Work closely with Manufacturing Control to support production planning, scheduling, and issue resolution
• Lead daily operations across assembly, inspection, reliability testing, and external labs/vendors
• Ensure adherence to all Hi-Rel and up-screening requirements, including customer and regulatory standards
• Oversee planning, scheduling, and execution of all Hi-Rel programs
• Champion SAP implementation and integration initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and data visibility
• Drive development and maintenance of detailed production schedules and Gantt charts to ensure on-time delivery
• Identify and manage critical paths, risks, and constraints across multiple concurrent programs
• Ensure seamless transition from product development to production and screening
• Develop and monitor KPIs to evaluate program success, on-time delivery, and operational efficiency
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and vendor management for Hi-Rel programs
• Partner with Applications, Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to define and execute Hi-Rel requirements
• Ensure accurate documentation of all screening and reliability requirements (e.g., Thermal Shock, Vibration, Burn-in, Life Testing, Radiographic Inspection, etc.)
• Coordinate with Test Engineering and Fixturing teams to develop necessary test setups and capabilities
• Ensure strict compliance with reliability standards, customer specifications, and internal quality systems
• Escalate quality issues and drive root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Partner with Quality & Reliability teams to maintain and improve screening effectiveness
• Ensure proper documentation, traceability, and audit readiness within SAP and operational systems
• Lead initiatives to improve throughput, reduce cycle time, and increase operational efficiency
• Analyze past project performance to eliminate recurring issues
• Implement Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to optimize Hi-Rel processes
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, scalability, and risk mitigation across Hi-Rel operations
• Build and optimize operational workflows and systems
• Analyze operational data (including SAP data) to inform strategic decisions
• Lead change management efforts related to process and system improvements
• Provide regular updates to leadership on program status, risks, and performance metrics
• Develop and track KPIs related to on-time delivery, yield, cycle time, and quality
• Serve as the primary escalation point for Hi-Rel operational issues
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing Hi-Rel operations team
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Foster a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous improvement
• Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment
• Ability and willingness to abide by Company’s Code of Conduct
• Occasional travel, some overnight, as required

Benefits

• Mini-Circuits is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, gender identity, gender dysphoria, pregnancy-related condition, and domestic violence victim status or protected class characteristic, or any other protected characteristic as established by federal or state law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees