Head of Operations/VP of Operations

Aera Therapeutics

$170K — $220K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years in operations, manufacturing, or supply chain management with 5+ years in senior roles.
  • Experience leading global contract manufacturing operations, particularly in Asia.
  • Successful track record in scaling operations for systems or hardware companies, ideally in wireless or telecom.
  • Demonstrated ability in gross margin improvement and operational scalability.
  • Proficient in vendor negotiations and supplier management.

Responsibilities

  • Define and execute a global operations strategy for Airgain's transformation into a systems company.
  • Lead supply chain and vendor management focusing on cost, quality, delivery, and resilience.
  • Build flexible processes to support new product introductions and rapidly changing customer requirements.
  • Drive cost reduction initiatives and improve overall operational efficiency.
  • Implement and optimize ERP and analytics to enhance decision-making and forecasting.
  • Collaborate with engineering, product, and finance for operational readiness of systems-level solutions.
  • Ensure compliance with public company standards and governance requirements.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401K match.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
  • Life and disability insurance.
  • Vacation and sick leave.
  • Flexible work hours.
Full Job Description
About Role: Airgain, Inc. is a publicly traded leader in wireless systems, evolving from its roots in antenna components to a fully integrated systems company delivering connectivity solutions to global customers. To support this transformation and next stage of growth, we are seeking a strategic, innovative, and agile Vice President of Operations to lead global operations. This role will oversee the entire operational value chain-supply chain, contract manufacturing, logistics, fulfillment, and operational strategy-ensuring scalability, efficiency, and resilience as the company expands its systems portfolio. The Head of/VP of Operations will be a key architect in building an agile operations platform that supports rapid product introductions, gross margin expansion, and global competitiveness in a dynamic market. The successful candidate will bring deep operational expertise, experience leading global supply chains, and the ability to align operations with the expectations of a public company and evolving systems business model. Why This Role is Critical Airgain is at an inflection point, moving from component provider to a complete wireless systems innovator. This transition demands a modern operations leader who can: • Build resilient, global supply networks aligned to systems-level integration. • Drive operational agility to support rapid design cycles and time-to-market. • Balance cost competitiveness with quality and reliability. • Navigate the complexities of a public company environment, investor expectations, and other priorities. • Partner across engineering, product, and finance to enable systems-level innovation at scale. This is a rare opportunity to combine hands-on leadership with strategic influence in a growing systems company backed by global customers and market demand. Essential Function: • Strategic Operations Leadership: Define and execute a global operations strategy aligned with Airgain's transformation into a systems company. • Supply Chain & Manufacturing: Lead supply chain, contract manufacturing, and vendor management (primarily in Asia) with focus on cost, quality, delivery, and resilience. • Operational Agility: Build scalable, flexible processes and systems to support new product introductions, rapid iteration, and evolving customer requirements. • Gross Margin & Cost Optimization: Drive initiatives in cost reduction, yield improvement, efficiency gains, and end-to-end value chain management. • Systems & Technology Enablement: Implement and optimize ERP, data analytics, and operational KPIs to improve decision-making and forecasting. • Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with engineering, product, and finance to ensure operational readiness for systems-level solutions. • Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with public company reporting standards, SOX requirements, and ESG-related operational reporting. • Team Leadership: Lead and develop a global operations team (U.S. and Asia), fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation. Requirements/Qualifications: • 12+ years progressive experience in operations, manufacturing, or supply chain management, including 5+ years in senior leadership. • Proven track record leading global contract manufacturing operations (Asia focus). • Demonstrated success scaling operations for systems or hardware companies, ideally in wireless, telecom, or adjacent sectors. • Experience driving gross margin improvement, COGS optimization, and operational scalability. • Skilled in vendor negotiations, partnership management, and supplier accountability. • Strong understanding of ERP systems, lean manufacturing, and operational analytics. • Experience working in a public company environment, including governance, compliance, and investor-facing expectations. • Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Preferred Qualifications • Background in wireless systems, telecommunications, or hardware solutions. • Experience in small to mid-sized growth companies transitioning to scale. • Exposure to systems-level integration, where hardware, software, and connectivity converge. • Familiarity with agile product development cycles and their impact on operations strategy. Benefits available to Regular Full Time Employees: • Medical/Dental/Vision • 401K Match • ESPP • Life & Disability Insurance • Vacation and Sick Leave • Flexible hours Compensation: The US base salary range for this full-time position is $170,000-$220,000 + target annual bonus. Our salary ranges are determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to the role, location, job-related skills, relevant education, experience and training. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire base salary for the position across all US locations and varies by the location of the position. Our Talent team member can share more about our salary ranges and other benefits of working at name of company, which are not included in the posted base salary range.

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