Aerospace Operations Manager

Smart4 Sciences; Lancaster (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Life

Retirement Plan

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Smart4Sciences is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of a large-scale aerospace sealants manufacturing facility onsite in Northeast Los Angeles, CA. The role reports to the Plant Manager and focuses on production, safety, quality, and operational excellence.

You will lead production engineers and technicians, develop schedules, drive lean initiatives, maintain AS9100 quality, and collaborate with engineering, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and R&D

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience.
• 5+ years of leadership in manufacturing.
• Experience with chemical or aerospace materials manufacturing and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of aerospace sealants facility.
• Lead cross-functional teams across engineering, maintenance, quality, and supply chain.
• Drive safety, OSHA compliance, and environmental programs.
• Implement continuous improvement to improve throughput, yield, and quality.
• Develop KPIs and monitor performance against targets.

Skills

Leadership experience

Production management

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Smart4Sciences is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of a large-scale aerospace sealants manufacturing facility. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing production processes, ensuring safety and quality standards, leading cross-functional teams, and driving operational excellence to meet business objectives. This is a fully onsite position in Northeast Los Angeles, California reporting to the Plant Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Management
• Oversee all manufacturing operations including mixing, blending, filling, and packaging of aerospace grade sealants
• Develop and implement production schedules to meet customer demand and delivery commitments
• Monitor, develop and implement strategies for improvement of production metrics including throughput, yield, quality, and efficiency
• Coordinate with planning and supply chain teams to optimize material flow and inventory levels
• Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and all quality control standards
• Manage and lead team of production engineers and technicians

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Champion safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and local environmental regulations
• Lead safety initiatives and maintain excellent safety performance metrics
• Oversee hazardous material handling and waste management programs
• Conduct regular safety audits and implement corrective actions
• Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety protocols

Quality Assurance

• Maintain product quality standards and specifications
• Collaborate with Quality Control/Quality Assurance teams to timely resolve quality issues
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality
• Ensure compliance with AS9100 standards and customer specific quality requirements across the manufacturing process
• Lead and develop a team of 50-100+ manufacturing personnel including engineers, supervisors, operators, and technicians
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance management
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement
• Conduct regular team meetings and communication sessions
• Manage staffing levels and overtime to meet production requirements

Operational Excellence

• Drive lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities
• Optimize equipment utilization and minimize downtime
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs)

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and R&D teams
• Coordinate with Sales and Customer Service on delivery commitments
• Support new product introductions and process improvements
• Participate in capital project planning and implementation

Qualifications

• Only US Citizens, Green card holders, political asylees, or refugees are eligible to apply
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or related field
• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience
• 5+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with chemical or aerospace materials manufacturing, exposure to sealants, coatings, paints, or similar process industries
• Experience with QAP or similar ERP systems
• #LI-ONSITE

The base salary range for this position is $175,000-$200,000, with a possibility of an annual bonus up to 20% of base salary. The client offers comprehensive benefits such as Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Plan, Paid Vacation & Holidays, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Disability/Leave, and other Voluntary benefit offerings. Actual benefit offerings confirmed at the time of hire.