Head of Hardware Production and Supply Chain Operations

What You Will Do

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop a team of manufacturing technicians and logistics and inventory staff, building a culture rooted in accountability, pride in craftsmanship, and continuous learning.
• Set clear performance expectations and conduct regular coaching sessions, performance reviews, and skills assessments to elevate individual and team capabilities across production and logistics/inventory functions.
• Foster a positive, motivated work environment where team members feel valued and engaged, resulting in strong retention and morale.
• Create training programs and cross-training plans to ensure workforce flexibility and depth across all production stations and logistics/inventory operations.

Safety

• Champion a safety-first culture across the production floor and logistics and warehouse operations, ensuring compliance with all OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Conduct regular safety audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations; implement corrective and preventive actions promptly.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) that prioritize operator and warehouse safety in every task.
• Track and report safety metrics, driving toward zero-incident goals through proactive hazard identification and mitigation.

Quality

• Own product quality throughout the manufacturing and assembly process, ensuring every product meets rigorous quality standards before shipment.
• Implement and manage quality control checkpoints, inspection protocols, and testing procedures at critical stages of production.
• Collaborate with Ops Engineering and Quality teams to resolve defects, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions.
• Monitor yield rates and first-pass quality metrics, using data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Cost & Operational Efficiency

• Manage production budgets, labor costs, and material utilization to meet or exceed cost targets without compromising safety or quality.
• Own budget and cost outcomes for Carbon’s freight, logistics, and inventory programs.
• Identify and implement process improvements using Lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve throughput, and increase efficiency.
• Plan and manage production schedules, capacity, and resource allocation to meet delivery commitments and customer demand.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Planning to optimize inventory levels and ensure timely availability of components and materials.

Logistics & Inventory Leadership

• Own management accountability for the cost, service levels, and integrity of Carbon’s global goods flow, including all inbound and outbound freight and global inventory accuracy and compliance.
• Lead, mentor, and directly manage the team of inventory and logistics staff, setting priorities and building scalable processes as Carbon grows.
• Ensure full compliance with international trade regulations and dangerous goods/hazardous materials requirements.
• Establish and track logistics and inventory KPIs (cost per shipment, on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, freight as a percentage of revenue) and drive continuous improvement against them.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting

• Serve as the primary liaison between the production floor and the Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to ensure seamless product launches and design-for-manufacturability feedback.
• Serve as the primary management point of contact for Finance, Legal, EH&S, Sales, contract manufacturing partners, and 3PLs on logistics, inventory, and trade compliance matters.
• Participate in new product introduction processes, contributing manufacturing insights during design reviews and pilot builds.
• Provide regular production, logistics, and inventory status reports, KPIs, and escalation updates to senior leadership.

Qualifications

Required:

• 8+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production management role, with demonstrated success leading teams of technicians or production operators.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• Experience managing, overseeing, or working closely with logistics, freight, and inventory functions, including leading teams responsible for freight and inventory control.
• Proven ability to build, develop, and motivate high-performing teams in a hands-on manufacturing environment, with a track record of maintaining safe production environments.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to understand complex electromechanical assemblies and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated discipline and meticulous attention to detail in managing production operations, documentation, and quality systems.
• Experience managing budgets, schedules, and resource planning.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to partner effectively with a senior individual-contributor expert to translate strategy into team execution.

Nice to Have:

• Understanding of workplace safety regulations (OSHA).
• Lean manufacturing certification (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Experience with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems.
• Background in 3D printing, additive manufacturing, or precision hardware production.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production tracking tools.
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
• Familiarity with international trade compliance and dangerous goods/hazardous materials regulations.