Aerospace Composite Production Lead

Karman Space & Defense; West Valley City (UT); On-site; USD 104,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account with companycon

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Company-paid life and AD&D insurance

Short- and long-term disability

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense is seeking an Operations Manager to lead daily production in our Salt Lake City/West Valley City composite manufacturing environment. You will guide technicians, optimize workflows, and ensure on-time delivery while upholding safety and quality standards.

The role emphasizes lean improvement, KPI-driven performance, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced aerospace setting. A technical degree and leadership experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 2+ years in manufacturing, or 4+ years in an equivalent role.
• Experience with manufacturing machinery and composite fabrication equipment.
• Strong MS Office skills.
• Proven leadership, organization, and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations, assigning work, managing priorities, and coordinating resources.
• Train and develop technicians, including onboarding, cross-training, and establishing capability objectives.
• Evaluate employee performance, provide constructive feedback, and support performance goal alignment.
• Addresses employee issues, supports hiring and termination decisions, and maintains positive team morale.
• Ensures safe operation of equipment, schedules maintenance, and trains employees on safety procedures.
• Reviews and approves timecards, overtime, and paid time off requests.
• Identifies process inefficiencies, recommends improvements, and supports continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitors production processes, maintains KPIs, and prepares progress reports.
• Ensures compliance with company policies, safety guidelines, and legal requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/manufacturing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is seeking an Operations Manager to lead daily production in our Salt Lake City/West Valley City composite manufacturing environment. You will guide technicians, optimize workflows, and ensure on-time delivery while upholding safety and quality standards.

The role emphasizes lean improvement, KPI-driven performance, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced aerospace setting. A technical degree and leadership experience are required.