Operations Manager, Instruments

Cytek Biosciences Inc. • Fremont, CA

53d

About The Position

At Cytek, we're building advanced instrument manufacturing capabilities that support cutting-edge science and global growth. As the Manager of Instrument Operations, you'll be a key driver of excellence-ensuring our operations are precise, scalable, and continually improving. If you thrive leading teams, optimizing processes, and making measurable impact, this is an opportunity to stretch yourself and shape the future of a dynamic biotech company.

What You'll Do

As a hands-on leader, you will:

Drive the production floor: Ensure Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) targets are met every shift.

Lead and develop people: Supervise & mentor supervisors, leads, and associates across multiple shifts; foster accountability and ownership.

Use metrics to win: Monitor key performance indicators (on‑time delivery, yield, labor efficiency, cycle time, downtime, inventory accuracy) and act swiftly on gaps.

Build reliability in inventory: Establish a daily cycle‑count program targeting 99% or higher inventory accuracy.

Improve operations: Champion Lean/5S/6S/continuous improvement; lead root‑cause analysis, corrective actions, and "Right the First Time" initiatives.

Collaborate cross‑functionally: Work with R&D, Quality, New Product Introduction, etc., to drive manufacturability, ensure smooth launches, and embed quality.

Scale smartly: Help prepare operations for growth-both through better productivity and possibly through oversight of warehouse/materials flow as we expand globally.

Operate with compliance and rigor: Enforce regulatory and safety standards (ISO 13485, FDA, OSHA), maintain cost discipline, and deliver a budget‑aware operation.

Build team culture: Create an environment of safety, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous learning; provide career development and address performance with fairness and clarity.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or related field
• 8+ years of leadership experience in a fast‑paced manufacturing/operations environment
• Experience managing multi‑shift teams of ~50+ employees
• Strong data / KPI mindset; comfortable making decisions based on metrics
• Skilled at juggling multiple priorities and executing with accountability
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills

Nice To Haves

• MBA a plus
• Six Sigma / Lean certification
• Experience with clinical/cGMP manufacturing
• Proven track record driving improvements in productivity, quality, inventory & financial performance
• Technical engineering experience or exposure
• Experience scaling warehouse or material operations
• Exposure to global operations or international supply chains

Responsibilities

• Drive the production floor: Ensure Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) targets are met every shift.
• Lead and develop people: Supervise & mentor supervisors, leads, and associates across multiple shifts; foster accountability and ownership.
• Use metrics to win: Monitor key performance indicators (on‑time delivery, yield, labor efficiency, cycle time, downtime, inventory accuracy) and act swiftly on gaps.
• Build reliability in inventory: Establish a daily cycle‑count program targeting 99% or higher inventory accuracy.
• Improve operations: Champion Lean/5S/6S/continuous improvement; lead root‑cause analysis, corrective actions, and "Right the First Time" initiatives.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally: Work with R&D, Quality, New Product Introduction, etc., to drive manufacturability, ensure smooth launches, and embed quality.
• Scale smartly: Help prepare operations for growth-both through better productivity and possibly through oversight of warehouse/materials flow as we expand globally.
• Operate with compliance and rigor: Enforce regulatory and safety standards (ISO 13485, FDA, OSHA), maintain cost discipline, and deliver a budget‑aware operation.
• Build team culture: Create an environment of safety, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous learning; provide career development and address performance with fairness and clarity.

Benefits

• High impact role: Your leadership will directly influence product quality, throughput, cost effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.
• Growth opportunity: As Cytek scales, there's potential to expand scope (warehouse/materials flow, inventory control) and broader leadership.
• Innovative environment: We value continuous improvement, data‑driven decision making, and applying Lean principles in a biotech/medical device context.
• Collaboration & visibility: You'll partner with multiple functions and report to senior leadership, gaining exposure to strategic operations.
• Mission driven: You'll help deliver instruments that enable scientific discovery, diagnostics, and better health outcomes.
• Comprehensive Benefits & Equity
• Cytek invests heavily in employee training and development-fostering career progression and innovation. Employees are encouraged to stretch their skills, and growth opportunities are built into the company's DNA.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees