Prototype & Development Manufacturing Supervisor
About The Position
At Zone 5 Technologies, the Prototype and Development Supervisor leads day-to-day execution across prototype build and systems integration activities, ensuring development work is safe, disciplined, coordinated, and learning-focused. The role owns people leadership, daily priorities, and execution flow across Development and Systems Integration technicians while respecting the technical risk authority held by senior technical staff. It works closely with engineering disciplines, production staff as needed, and operations teams to support expected outcomes. The supervisor coordinates development and integration work, manages technicians, enforces safety and development discipline, and supports effective coordination with Engineering, Flight Test, and Manufacturing. The position also improves execution cadence and predictability, removes handoff blockers, and supports standardization without suppressing learning. The role sets daily priorities and task sequencing, assigns work, escalates technical risk decisions appropriately, and recommends staffing and development actions.
Requirements
- 5–8+ years in aerospace, UAV, robotics, or advanced development environments.
- Prior experience leading technical teams as a supervisor or lead.
- Strong understanding of prototype build, integration, and test workflows.
- Proven ability to lead in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
- Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills.
- Safety-first mindset.
Responsibilities
- Own daily execution across prototype build and systems integration work.
- Coordinate priorities across Development and Integration to maintain a tight learning loop.
- Ensure smooth handoff from prototype build to system integration and test.
- Balance competing demands across multiple programs and value streams.
- Directly manage Development and Systems Integration Technicians.
- Set clear expectations, provide coaching, and address performance issues.
- Support skill development and readiness for promotion.
- Ensure staffing and coverage align with development priorities.
- Enforce safety procedures during powered, integrated, and flight-capable work.
- Ensure development discipline, including documentation, configuration awareness, and escalation.
- Support stop-work decisions when safety or risk thresholds are exceeded.
- Partner with Engineering to align execution with design intent.
- Coordinate with Flight Test for readiness and scheduling.
- Work with Manufacturing to support clean prototype-to-production transitions.
- Improve development execution cadence and predictability.
- Identify friction in handoffs and remove blockers.
- Support standardization without suppressing learning.
- Set daily priorities and task sequencing.
- Assign work across Development and Integration teams.
- Escalate technical risk decisions appropriately.
- Recommend staffing and development actions.
Benefits
- Competitive total compensation package.
- Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
- 401k with company match.
- 3 weeks of paid time off each year.
- 40 hours of sick time.
- 12 annual company holidays.
- Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
