Production Manager - Defense

Patriot Aerospace Solutions

$140K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Military background preferred due to the customer base
  • Some hands-on manufacturing leadership experience
  • Ability to interpret engineering documents
  • High energy and results-oriented
  • Strong people leadership and emotional intelligence

Responsibilities

  • Lead daily operations of the oxygen systems cell
  • Own and drive cell performance metrics
  • Establish production priorities and manage resources
  • Coach and develop the technician and engineering team
  • Ensure compliance with quality and contamination-control procedures
  • Collaborate with other departments to resolve issues
  • Build credibility by learning existing processes before driving change

Benefits

  • Potential for growth into broader site leadership
  • Support for periodic domestic travel for supplier engagement
  • Opportunities for development and mentorship
  • Exposure to a regulated manufacturing environment
Full Job Description
Production Manger | Oxygen Systems

Pennsauken, NJ • On-site

POSITION SUMMARY

The Production Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the oxygen systems production cell, supplying the oxygen sources military personnel need when jumping from high altitudes. This is a hands-on, floor-level leadership role at the company's Pennsauken, New Jersey facility, focused on team performance and on-time delivery, with strong potential for growth into broader site leadership over time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead day-to-day operations of the oxygen systems assembly cell, including scheduling, workload balancing, and overtime management.
• Own cell-level performance metrics, including direct labor, overtime, and on-time delivery, and drive consistent achievement against targets.
• Establish production priorities and allocate labor, materials, and equipment to meet delivery commitments, identifying risks and implementing recovery plans as needed.
• Coach, mentor, and develop the technician and engineering team; conduct performance reviews and manage day-to-day employee relations.
• Ensure compliance with clean-room, contamination-control, and quality procedures during assembly, pressurization, and testing.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve production and technical issues.
• Build credibility with a long-tenured team by learning existing processes and relationships before driving change.
• Support periodic domestic travel for supplier visits, product testing, and customer meetings as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required
• Military background strongly preferred, given the company's predominantly military customer base; prior service, including former junior military officers, is a significant plus.
• Some hands-on manufacturing or production leadership experience, industry-agnostic - aerospace or defense experience not required.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions.
• High energy, self-directed, and results-oriented, comfortable driving outcomes without close daily oversight.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, and emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust with an established team before introducing change.

Preferred
• General business MBA is a plus.
• Experience in a regulated or process-driven manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience supervising production/manufacturing employees.

COMPENSATION

Base salary range of $140,000-$160,000. Relocation assistance may be available.

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