Job Title: Sr. Operations Manager
Reports To: Sr. Director of Operations
Department: Operations
Summary: The Senior Operations Manager, Machining is responsible for directing and optimizing all machining operations supporting the manufacture of highly engineered aerospace and semiconductor components. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for complex CNC machining, tool room operations, production planning, manufacturing execution, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement activities.
The successful candidate will lead teams producing precision-machined components with extremely tight tolerances, complex geometries, and exacting quality requirements using advanced machining technologies and challenging materials including titanium, Inconel, stainless steels, aluminum alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and semiconductor-grade materials.
This position is accountable for achieving world-class performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and customer satisfaction while supporting growth initiatives in aerospace, defense, space, and semiconductor markets.
Operations Leadership - Lead all CNC machining, tool room, and supporting manufacturing operations for complex aerospace and semiconductor components.
- Oversee multi-axis milling, turning, mill-turn, Swiss machining, precision grinding, and specialized secondary operations.
- Ensure consistent execution of machining processes capable of maintaining tight tolerances and demanding surface finish requirements.
- Develop operational strategies that support high-mix, low-volume aerospace production as well as high-precision semiconductor manufacturing environments.
- Drive productivity improvement, capacity planning and equipment utilization across advanced machining technologies.
- Balance competing requirements within our toolroom to support both new product introduction and production
- Lead manufacturing readiness activities for both new product introductions and advanced customer programs.
Industry-Specific Experience Required- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
- 8+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
- 5+ years leading machining operations producing complex precision components, with direct experience managing a multiple shift operation.
- Understands and can adjust approach across varied machining operations involving titanium, Inconel, high-temperature alloys, and precision semiconductor materials.
- Strong understanding of GD&T and ability to apply this knowledge as part of root cause analysis methodologies.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate machining strategy and linkage to results.
- Experience operating within AS9100, ISO 9001, and/or semiconductor manufacturing quality systems.
- Experience with limiting / reducing voluntary attrition.
Preferred- Experience supporting aerospace OEMs, space programs, defense contractors, semiconductor equipment manufacturers, or wafer fabrication supply chains.
- Background at a Tier 1 machining corporation (e.g. PCC).
- Experience with Theory of Constraints and managing inputs (personnel, equipment) accordingly to optimize output based on current constraints.
- Demonstrated experience driving one-person multiple machine strategies.
- Experience driving production in a rapid growth environment with shifting variables.
- Familiarity with automated machining cells, robotics, lights-out manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
- Strong understanding of process capability and statistical process control (SPC)
Key Performance Indicators (Enhanced)The Senior Operations Manager will be accountable for:
- Safety Performance
- On-Time Delivery
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Labor Productivity
- Machine Utilization
- Scrap and Rework Reduction
- First Pass Yield
- Process Capability (Cp/Cpk)
- Customer PPM Performance
- Capacity Utilization
- Tooling Cost Management
- Inventory Accuracy
- EBITDA Contribution
- Employee Retention and Development
Direct Reports:- Supervisors
- Operations Managers
- Process Area Leads
- Tool Room Manager
Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a proven manufacturing leader with deep expertise in precision machining operations serving aerospace and semiconductor customers. They possess a strong technical understanding of advanced CNC machining, tooling strategies, process capability, quality systems, and operational excellence. He or she is a skilled communicator and has executive presence and presentation skills commensurate with that type of role. This individual thrives in environments where precision, repeatability, and customer requirements are critical to success and has a demonstrated track record of building high-performing teams while delivering exceptional operational results.
This version positions the role solidly at the senior leadership level and aligns well with organizations producing flight-critical aerospace hardware, semiconductor process equipment, and high precision machined components.
Duties and Responsibilities: Include the following; other duties may be assigned.
- Coordinate production, distribution, warehousing and maintenance in accordance with policies, principles, and procedures established by management.
- In depth understanding of aerospace machinery and equipment used in the production process.
- Progressive problem solving with the use of lean methodologies and cross-communication.
- Working on specified projects and being accountable for their successful completion
- Preparing and maintaining budgets as needed
- Interact with various clients in a professional manner to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses in order to build and develop employee and management team.
- Working on specified projects and being accountable for their successful completion
- Preparing and maintaining budgets as needed
- Interact with various clients in a professional manner to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses in order to build and develop employee and management team.
- Working on specified projects and being accountable for their successful completion
- Preparing and maintaining budgets as needed
- Interact with various clients in a professional manner to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses in order to build and develop employee and management team.
- Ensure operations and equipment is in compliance to corporate guidelines and OSHA Standards.
- Prioritize cross-training efforts with Supervisors.
- Perform employee reviews as required.
- Must also demonstrate successful leadership and team building skills.
Education and Experience: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Experience: 5+ years of senior leadership role managing multiple direct reports within a manufacturing environment. Aerospace manufacturing industry experience a plus.
- Interpersonal skills to communicate with plant manager, sales staff, and warehouse personnel.
- Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
- Able to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
- General proficiency of Microsoft Office software with excellent verbal and written skills.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee successfully perform essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
- Minimum vision requirements: near and far vision of 20/30 in both eyes corrected or uncorrected
- Manual dexterity to handle small delicate parts and hand held standard measuring equipment at the same time.
Training Requirements:- Both on and off-site supervision and management training as defined by the company.
