Assembly Supervisor

Thorlabs; Sparta Township (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company paid life insurance

Generous PTO

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Thorlabs in Sparta, NJ is seeking an Assembly Supervisor to lead the daily activities of the assembly team, ensuring safe, efficient production aligned with quality standards and schedules. The role requires coordinating workloads, developing staff, and resolving issues impacting output, with up to 10% travel to customer locations and other Thorlabs sites.

Candidates should have at least five years in a similar supervisory role, a high school diploma or equivalent, and proven leadership, quality

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar supervisory role.
• Knowledge of assembly processes, production workflows and productivity improvement.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills with accountability.
• Familiarity with quality control practices and defect prevention.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily assembly activities, set priorities, and assign work.
• Execute production schedules and adjust assignments per priorities.
• Monitor progress, productivity, and labor utilization; address issues.
• Ensure work follows drawings, BOMs, work instructions and quality standards.
• Enforce safety procedures and address unsafe conditions.
• Train and coach employees; support cross-training.
• Identify defects and drive root-cause investigations with teams.

Skills

Leadership

Prioritization

Resource allocation

Communication of expectations

Quality control

ERP systems

Office tools

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Production reporting tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabscontributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.

Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.

Purpose of the Position

The Assembly Supervisor oversees the daily activities of the assembly team to ensure products are assembled safely, efficiently, and in accordance with quality requirements and production schedules. This position assigns and coordinates work, develops employees, monitors production performance, and resolves issues that affect output. The Assembly Supervisor works closely with supporting departments to maintain workflow, meet delivery commitments, and improve assembly operations. While this position is based in Sparta, NJ, up to 10% travel may be required to customer locations and other Thorlabs sites.

Essential Job Functions include the following, but are not limited to:

• Supervise daily assembly activities, establishing clear priorities, and assigning work based on production requirements, employee skills, and available resources.
• Execute production schedules and adjust work assignments to address changing priorities, staffing availability, material shortages, and production delays.
• Monitor job progress, productivity, and labor utilization; take corrective action and elevate issues that could affect production or delivery commitments.
• Ensure assembly work follows applicable drawings, bills of materials, work instructions, and quality standards.
• Enforce safety procedures and promptly address unsafe conditions, practices, and equipment concerns.
• Train and coach employees in assembly methods, equipment use, quality expectations, and safe work practices; support cross-training to improve team flexibility.
• Identify and address assembly defects and rework; support root cause investigations and implement corrective actions by coordinating with appropriate teams/departments

In addition to the essential functions and duties listed above, all positions are also responsible for:

• Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work related tasks in a manner that is in compliance with all Company policies and procedures.
• Adhering to Company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behavior in completing job duties and assignments.

The Company retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Physical Activities:

Work may be active, could stand or sit for long durations and/or perform repetitious work at times. The employee may lift or move objects up to 20 pounds. Employees must grasp, manipulate, or assemble parts and components that are often very small. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, however, it may be noisy at times. Must be able to wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment such as but not limited to masks, glasses, gloves, and specialty garments. The required PPE and training allow for the safe handling and processing of chemicals like adhesives, lubricants and solvents, and safe operation of job-related equipment and tools.

Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar and progressive position with supervisory experience preferred.

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent work experience

Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of assembly processes, production workflows, and methods for improving productivity and efficiency.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work, allocate resources, and adjust assignments to meet production schedules.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to communicate expectations and hold employees accountable.
• Familiarity with quality control practices, including identifying defects and preventing recurring errors.
• Knowledge of workplace safety practices and the proper use of assembly tools and equipment.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, production reporting tools, and basic Microsoft Office applications.

Salary range for this position is $65,000 - $82,000 depending on experience

Direct Reports:

Assemblers

Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.