Description

Position Summary:

The HFM Manufacturing Line Manager is responsible for leading and managing High Frequency Module (HFM) manufacturing operations, including Test, Assembly, Kit Room, Casing, and Inspection. This role ensures products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company procedures, quality standards, and customer delivery requirements. The position directs daily manufacturing operations, establishes production priorities, manages schedules, optimizes resources, and ensures product manufacturing is completed on time while meeting quality, cost, and productivity objectives.

The HFM Manufacturing Manager partners with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Control, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to resolve manufacturing challenges, improve processes, increase capacity, drive continuous improvement initiatives and ensure alignment of production schedules with changing business demands, customer commitments, material availability, engineering requirements, and manufacturing capacity. The role is accountable for workforce development, performance management, safety, quality, and operational excellence while ensuring compliance with company procedures, regulatory requirements, and applicable quality management systems.

Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 per year

Job Function:

• Lead and manage HFM Test, Assembly, Kit Room, Casing, and Inspection operations to ensure safe, efficient, high-quality, and on-time manufacturing performance.
• Establish daily manufacturing priorities, balance workloads, and direct resources to support customer orders, engineering builds, qualification lots, new product introductions, and changing business needs.
• Monitor schedule adherence, production capacity, labor utilization, equipment availability, and departmental workload; adjust priorities and resources as needed to prevent delays and maintain on-time delivery.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Control, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to resolve material shortages, scheduling conflicts, engineering changes, production issues, and manufacturing constraints.
• Ensure production runs progress efficiently through all manufacturing operations by expediting critical orders, removing workflow obstacles, and supporting timely movement of work from kit release through final inspection.
• Promote and ensure compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 14001, ESD controls, company procedures, quality standards, environmental requirements, and safety policies.
• Monitor manufacturing performance and implement corrective actions to improve throughput, productivity, schedule attainment, labor efficiency, first-pass yield, safety, quality, and overall operational efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on production flow, bottleneck reduction, lead-time reduction, capacity expansion, cost reduction, process optimization, and improved schedule execution.
• Review, maintain, and help improve manufacturing procedures, work instructions, scheduling practices, operational documentation, and departmental processes to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with production requirements.
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators, including schedule attainment, on-time delivery, manufacturing throughput, capacity utilization, first-pass yield, labor efficiency, safety, quality, and continuous improvement metrics.
• Support capital equipment planning, facility improvements, capacity expansion, and strategic manufacturing initiatives that strengthen operational capability and support business growth.
• Partner with Product Engineering to review development and "H" runs, provide manufacturing feedback, document issues, and support timely resolution of build concerns.
• Review and approve applicable ECOs, test procedures, work instructions, and operational changes to ensure manufacturing documentation remains accurate, current, and aligned with production requirements.
• Initiate and support efficiency improvement projects that improve production flow, reduce bottlenecks, increase capacity, and strengthen overall manufacturing performance.
• Add, remove, or adjust manufacturing operations on production runs from the kit room through final inspection as required to support proper routing, schedule execution, and product completion.
• Provide daily supervision and direction for HFM manufacturing team members, including work assignments, schedule priorities, attendance, and timecard approvals..
• Coach, train, and develop team members while fostering accountability, teamwork, safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the department.

The duties, responsibilities, and expectations described above are not comprehensive, and additional tasks may be assigned within the scope of the position.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related technical field with a minimum of 3 years of related experience; or
• Associate's degree in a related technical field with a minimum of 5 years of related on-the-job experience in manufacturing, engineering, test, assembly, or production operations.
• 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing management environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and able to use department database systems and related business applications.
• Experience with program management, production planning, manufacturing execution, or similar operational coordination activities. Familiarity with Arena or other Product Lifecycle Management systems preferred.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English, including the ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Experience working with microelectronic assemblies, RF/microwave products, or similar high-reliability electronic manufacturing processes preferred.
• Experience working with RF test equipment, including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and related test instrumentation preferred.
• Ability to occasionally move test equipment as required for setup preparation, test station support, or equipment calibration activities.
• Ability to distinguish colors in accordance with the Ishihara test for color blindness.
• Ability to train and support entry-level team members on departmental activities, procedures, and expectations.
• Ability to multitask, work well under pressure, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to changing production demands.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Cultural Focus:

• Displays enthusiasm and Passion for their work
• Works to the standard of Uncompromising Quality by meeting or exceeding stated objectives and embracing continuous improvement
• Exercises sound Business Judgement, ensuring that efforts are on track with the Company's goals
• Operates with the mindset of Customer Obsession - by meeting or exceeding expectations to both internal and external customers
• Takes Accountability by taking ownership and accepting responsibility for their conduct and contributions
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency and accomplishes tasks with Speed and attention to detail
• Cooperates, collaborates and contributes to shared goals with a strong sense of Teamwork
• Conducts themselves with Honesty & Integrity and treats all members with Trust & Respect

Additional Requirements/Skills:

• Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment
• Ability and willingness to abide by Company's Code of Conduct
• Occasional travel, some overnight, as required

Disclaimer: The listed qualifications and requirements for each position are intended as guidelines. Mini-Circuits reserves the right to hire outside of these guidelines at Management's discretion.