Head of Hardware Production

What You Will Do

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop a team of manufacturing technicians, 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.
• 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.

Safety

• Champion a safety-first culture on the production floor, 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 safety in every production 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.
• 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 Supply Chain and Planning to optimize inventory levels and ensure timely availability of components and materials.

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.
• Participate in new product introduction processes, contributing manufacturing insights during design reviews and pilot builds.
• Provide regular production status reports, KPIs, and escalation updates to the SVP of Operations.

Qualifications

Required

• 8+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production role, with demonstrated success leading teams of technicians or production operators.
• 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 production budgets, schedules, and resource planning.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Nice to Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 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.

Compensation: $176,000 - $264,000 per year (midpoint $220,000, adjusted for location), plus equity, benefits, and time off.