Senior Manufacturing Manager

Gooch & Housego Pal Alto•Fremont, CA

3m•$145,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the Senior Manufacturing Manager – Fabrication & Bonding, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for complex optical fabrication and bonding operations within a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. You will lead teams responsible for the safe, efficient, and repeatable production of precision optical components while partnering closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams to support new product introductions, technology transfers, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in a technically challenging environment and is passionate about developing people, optimizing manufacturing performance, and successfully implementing new technologies and processes to support business growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience within photonics, optics, semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, or other precision manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated experience leading fabrication, bonding, assembly, or other complex manufacturing operations in a high-mix, low-volume environment.
Proven experience supporting new product introductions, technology transfers, and implementation of new manufacturing processes and equipment.
Strong knowledge of optical fabrication, precision manufacturing, bonding processes, or related advanced manufacturing technologies preferred.
Experience leading Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives with demonstrated measurable results.
Strong understanding of manufacturing metrics, capacity planning, production scheduling, and operational performance management.
Experience working within regulated manufacturing environments such as AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or similar quality systems.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams while driving accountability and employee engagement.
Excellent communication, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership for fabrication and bonding manufacturing operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and on-time production of high-quality products that meet customer and business requirements.
Establish operational objectives, staffing plans, and performance expectations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
Monitor key operational metrics including yield, throughput, cycle time, on-time delivery, scrap, and labor utilization, implementing corrective actions as needed to achieve business objectives.
Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, engineers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel to build a high-performing and engaged organization.
Drive workforce capability through training, succession planning, cross-training, and employee development initiatives.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while promoting employee engagement and inclusion.
Partner with Engineering and NPI teams to support the implementation of new products, technologies, equipment, and manufacturing processes into production.
Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new product introductions, technology transfers, and production ramp initiatives, ensuring personnel, documentation, tooling, and processes are fully prepared for successful launch.
Drive implementation of process improvements, automation solutions, and manufacturing technologies that improve capacity, yield, quality, and operational efficiency.
Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve manufacturing performance, reduce waste, and enhance process capability.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality teams to resolve complex technical issues, conduct root cause investigations, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
Drive process standardization, manufacturing discipline, and best practice deployment across fabrication and bonding operations.
Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Site Leadership to align manufacturing priorities with customer commitments and business objectives.
Support capacity planning, capital equipment planning, budgeting, and resource allocation activities to meet current and future business demands.
Communicate operational performance, risks, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership while ensuring compliance with quality, regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements.