General Manager - Advanced Manufacturing

AustCorp Executive; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

AustCorp Executive in Brisbane is seeking a General Manager for Advanced Manufacturing with leadership in precision engineering, five-axis CNC, robotics and defence/aerospace sectors.

You will take full P&L accountability, drive growth, optimise ERP and inventory, and lead 15 staff through three managers.

This is a hands-on, commercially sharp leadership role offering significant investment in technology and a path to scale a high-performance manufacturing business.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of leadership in CNC machining and/or metal fabrication.
• Strong technical knowledge of CNC machining and precision manufacturing.
• Proven full P&L accountability, budgeting and financial performance.
• Experience managing manufacturing operations through measurable KPIs.
• Strong ERP capability across production planning, inventory and reporting.
• A demonstrated ability to improve manufacturing efficiency, productivity and commercial performance.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100D or similar quality systems.
• The ability to lead people, implement change and build a strong operational culture.

Responsibilities

• Taking full ownership of P&L, budgets, revenue, EBITDA and operational KPIs.
• Transforming a traditional jobbing workshop into a structured, planned and scalable manufacturing operation.
• Maximising CNC machine utilisation, production capacity, scheduling and profitability.
• Driving commercial growth across precision engineering, defence, aerospace, automotive and specialist manufacturing.
• Improving quoting accuracy, job costing, margins and turnaround times.
• Optimising ERP systems, inventory management and distribution performance.
• Introducing smarter processes, automation, robotics and emerging technologies, including AI.
• Maintaining stringent quality standards, including AS9100D.
• Leading, mentoring and developing departmental managers and their teams.
• Building a positive, accountable culture where people are engaged and success is celebrated.

Skills

Leadership experience

CNC machining knowledge

P&L accountability

ERP capability

Process improvement

Quality systems ISO 9001/AS9100D

Change leadership

People development

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

General Manager - Advanced Manufacturing

General Manager – Advanced Manufacturing Precision Engineering | CNC Machining | Motorsport & Advanced Manufacturing
Banyo, Brisbane QLD | Full-Time, Permanent
This is not your average manufacturing leadership role. Imagine taking the reins of an advanced manufacturing facility with serious engineering capability, cutting-edge technology and significant growth potential.
Five-axis CNC machining. Robotics. Precision engineering. Defence. Aerospace. Motorsport.

Now imagine having the autonomy to turn that technical capability into a thriving, commercially successful manufacturing business.
That's exactly what this opportunity offers.
We are partnering with an established, highly respected Australian engineering organisation with more than 20 years of experience in high-performance manufacturing and precision engineering.

With significant investment in machinery, technology and facilities, the business is entering an exciting period of transformation, expanding its manufacturing capabilities into new commercial markets.
The foundations are already in place.

Now they need the right leader to take the business to the next level.
The Opportunity Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will take full P&L accountability for an advanced manufacturing and distribution operation based in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

Leading approximately 15 employees through three departmental managers, you will oversee:

• Precision CNC Machining – Advanced five-axis machining centres, CNC milling machines and lathes.
• Fabrication & Laser – Robotic welding, tube bending, flat and tube laser cutting and folding.
• Distribution Centre – Approximately 7,000 stocked product lines, supporting an expanding national and international distribution network.

The facility has the equipment, technology and capacity to support significant growth.
Your challenge? Build the systems, structure, commercial discipline and culture to make it happen.

What You'll Be Doing
This is a genuine business leadership position, not simply a role managing the workshop.

You'll be responsible for:

• Taking full ownership of P&L, budgets, revenue, EBITDA and operational KPIs.
• Transforming a traditional jobbing workshop into a structured, planned and scalable manufacturing operation.
• Maximising CNC machine utilisation, production capacity, scheduling and profitability.
• Driving commercial growth across precision engineering, defence, aerospace, automotive and specialist manufacturing.
• Improving quoting accuracy, job costing, margins and turnaround times.
• Optimising ERP systems, inventory management and distribution performance.
• Introducing smarter processes, automation, robotics and emerging technologies, including AI.
• Maintaining stringent quality standards, including AS9100D.
• Leading, mentoring and developing departmental managers and their teams.
• Building a positive, accountable culture where people are engaged and success is celebrated.

You'll work closely with senior leadership and business development to identify opportunities, maximise manufacturing capacity and deliver sustainable growth.
What We're Looking For We need someone who understands manufacturing from the workshop floor right through to the balance sheet.

You MUST bring:

• At least five years' leadership experience within CNC machining and/or metal fabrication.
• Strong technical knowledge of CNC machining and precision manufacturing.
• Proven full P&L accountability, including budgeting, profitability and financial performance.
• Experience managing manufacturing operations through measurable KPIs.
• Strong ERP capability across production planning, inventory and reporting.
• A demonstrated ability to improve manufacturing efficiency, productivity and commercial performance.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100D or similar quality systems.
• The ability to lead people, implement change and build a strong operational culture.

Even better if you have:

• Led a contract manufacturing or precision engineering business.
• Taken a jobbing workshop into planned, scheduled production.
• Worked within defence, aerospace, automotive or motorsport manufacturing.
• Managed warehousing or distribution alongside manufacturing.
• Implemented automation, robotics or advanced manufacturing technologies.

The Person We're looking for
A leader who is equally comfortable discussing machine utilisation with a CNC machinist, reviewing margins with finance and presenting growth opportunities to the Managing Director.
Someone who sees opportunities rather than obstacles.
Someone who understands that the best manufacturing businesses combine exceptional people, smart processes, commercial thinking and great technology.
You'll be hands-on, approachable, commercially sharp and genuinely excited by the opportunity to build something.

Why This Role?
Because opportunities like this don't come along every day.

• Lead a sophisticated advanced manufacturing operation with significant existing investment.
• Work with high-specification CNC machinery, robotics and precision engineering technology.
• Take genuine ownership of business performance, reporting directly to the Managing Director.
• Drive expansion into defence, aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors.
• Shape the systems, team and commercial strategy for the next stage of growth.
• Join an established engineering organisation with an exciting future.

This is more than a manufacturing management role. It's an opportunity to build the next chapter of a growing engineering business.