Job Summary:Mercury Systems is seeking an experienced Director of Factory Operations to lead daily operations across our Torrance and Cypress, California manufacturing facilities. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams to achieve both short- and long-range operational goals. The Director is responsible for ensuring both sites meet customer, quality, delivery, and financial requirements while driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and a high-performance culture.
In this role you will:
- Define goals, drive deliverables, and resolve operational challenges while leading cross-functional teams representing manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, and engineering across both facilities.
- Develop operations plans, budgets, staffing strategies, and policies that support revenue and margin objectives for the Torrance and Cypress sites.
- Translate customer and program requirements into advanced manufacturing strategies and processes that ensure cost-effective, high-quality production.
- Maintain AS9100 processes, key operational metrics, IPC certifications, and all safety and regulatory compliance requirements for both locations.
Job Responsibilities:- Meeting production requirements that support Mercury's revenue plan across both California factories.
- Ensuring daily manufacturing and production objectives are executed in a timely, cost-effective, and quality-focused manner.
- Maintaining standards for safety, product quality, delivery performance, and operational value.
- Driving the development and implementation of operating methods and procedures to eliminate bottlenecks, improve product quality, and increase efficiency.
- Optimizing factory performance through Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, and other continuous improvement methodologies to maximize productivity, capacity, and throughput while minimizing lead time and WIP.
- Building, developing, and mentoring a high-performing operations team across both sites.
- Managing COGS through cost control, material usage efficiency, labor utilization, and quality performance.
- Overseeing the full product lifecycle within the factory environment, from NPI through full-rate production.
- Measuring factory performance and driving continuous improvement through regular business reviews and performance assessments.
- Implementing daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs for manufacturing, production, and operations, including shop-floor metrics that demonstrate efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
- Managing plans to avoid delivery and inventory issues and providing guidance on corrective actions.
- Establishing and controlling production conditions to meet customer, regulatory, and quality specifications.
- Participating in standardization efforts, cost-reduction initiatives, and ERP/MRP system improvements, including digital transformation of operations.
Required Qualifications:- Experience in Aerospace, Defense, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent experience.
- 10+ years of manufacturing experience, preferably in electronics or complex assemblies.
- Minimum 8+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong communication and people-leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Demonstrated expertise implementing Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to use metrics to drive decision-making.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Oracle preferred), MES systems, and digital operations initiatives.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.
- This is an on-site leadership role supporting both Torrance, CA and Cypress, CA facilities. Regular presence at both locations is required.
Preferred Qualifications:- Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt / Black Belt), operational excellence preferred
- Prior experience in defense / aerospace or similarly regulated industries preferred
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management; ability to articulate status, issues, risk to senior leadership
- Comfortable in high-pressure, fast-paced environments; adaptability & problem-solving mindset
- Advanced degree / Masters
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"This position requires you to have or obtain a government security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens."
