Defense Manufacturing Operations Manager

Level Up Talent; Melbourne (KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Moodro is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to build and lead U.S. operations, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery of defense products to customers.

The role centers on production execution, supply chain performance, and manufacturing readiness, partnering with Engineering, Procurement, and Project Management. They will initially work with contract manufacturers while scaling processes, supplier networks, and an operational infrastructure to support long-term growth across

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen eligible to support defense-related programs.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of operations leadership experience in manufacturing or supply chain.
• Minimum 5 years supporting defense, aerospace, military, or government contracting programs.
• Hands-on experience with contract manufacturers, supplier management, procurement, production planning, and inventory management.
• Strong understanding of defense manufacturing requirements, including compliance, traceability, supplier controls, and government customer expectations.
• Proven track record of developing operational processes, mitigating risk, and improving manufacturing performance.

Responsibilities

• Own U.S. production and delivery execution.
• Provide real-time visibility into production status, schedules, constraints, and mitigation plans.
• Develop and report operational metrics to drive accountability.
• Lead scalable manufacturing processes and infrastructure for growth.
• Manage production planning, capacity planning, labor forecasting, and readiness activities.
• Oversee contract manufacturing relationships and supplier management.
• Conduct make-vs-buy analyses and cost modeling.
• Ensure compliance with ITAR, NDAA sourcing, traceability, and NIST 800-171.

Skills

Operations leadership

Defense industry knowledge

Contract manufacturing

Supply chain management

Procurement

Production planning

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business

PMP, APICS, CPIM, CSCP or similar certifications

Job description

Our client Moodro is a rapidly growing defense technology company developing autonomous counter-UAS solutions designed to operate in real combat conditions and to secure civilians from the increased threat of drones. We work on the hardest challenges to stay ahead of the evolving threats. We are committed to our mission and value candidates who work with the same sense of urgency and diligence.

Our technologies are actively deployed and utilized in operational environments, delivering critical electronic warfare (EW), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and counter-drone capabilities. Moodro has successfully validated our suite of technologies for use in real-world missions. Participation in multiple DIU Projects and competitive selection for the JIATF-401 Pathfinder C-UAS Marketplace secures Moodro's global market position.

Our team includes veterans, engineers, and defense professionals who continuously test, refine, and improve solutions in real field conditions. Moodro is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to build and lead the company’s U.S. operations function. This individual will be responsible for ensuring products are delivered on time, within budget, and to the quality standards required for defense customers.

Position Summary

Reporting directly to executive leadership, the Operations Manager will serve as the operational owner of production execution, supply chain performance, manufacturing readiness, and delivery commitments. They will partner closely with Project Management, Engineering, and Procurement to provide transparent, data-driven visibility into schedules, risks, capacity, and resource requirements.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys building from the ground up. Initially, the Operations Manager will work directly with contract manufacturers while establishing the processes, systems, supplier network, and operational infrastructure needed to scale. Over time, they will build and lead a multidisciplinary operations organization supporting manufacturing, planning, procurement, quality, customer support, and project management.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Own operational execution for all U.S. production and delivery activities.
• Ensure customer commitments are met through effective planning, execution, and risk management.
• Provide leadership with accurate, real-time visibility into production status, schedules, constraints, and mitigation plans.
• Develop operational metrics and reporting systems that drive accountability and informed decision-making.

Manufacturing & Production Strategy

• Build scalable manufacturing processes and operational infrastructure to support company growth.
• Lead production planning, capacity planning, labor forecasting, and operational readiness activities.
• Drive the maturation of manufacturing processes from startup through full-scale production.
• Translate business forecasts into workforce, facility, inventory, and procurement requirements.

Contract Manufacturing & Supply Chain

• Manage relationships with contract manufacturers during the company’s initial production phase.
• Oversee supplier selection, qualification, performance, and risk management.
• Lead inventory planning, procurement coordination, and supply chain execution.
• Resolve supplier, quality, and production issues before they impact customer deliveries.

Make-vs.-Buy & Cost Analysis

• Conduct make-vs.-buy analyses to determine the optimal manufacturing strategy.
• Evaluate outsourcing versus in-house production opportunities based on cost, quality, scalability, and operational risk.
• Develop business cases and operational models that support long-term growth objectives.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure operational processes support defense industry requirements, including ITAR, NDAA sourcing requirements, traceability, supplier controls, and NIST 800-171 compliance considerations.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality teams to establish compliant and scalable operational systems.

Team Development

• Build and lead the U.S. operations organization as production volumes increase.
• Recruit, develop, and mentor operational leaders and individual contributors.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen eligible to support defense-related programs and customer requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of operations, manufacturing, supply chain, or production leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years supporting defense, aerospace, military, or government contracting programs.
• Demonstrated experience building, launching, or scaling manufacturing operations from startup or early-stage environments.
• Hands-on experience with contract manufacturers, supplier management, procurement, production planning, and inventory management.
• Strong understanding of defense manufacturing requirements, including compliance, traceability, supplier controls, and government customer expectations.
• Proven track record of developing operational processes, mitigating risk, and improving manufacturing performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience establishing or scaling a defense manufacturing facility from the ground up.
• Experience transitioning products from contract manufacturing to internal production.
• Experience conducting make-vs-buy analyses and manufacturing cost modeling.
• PMP, APICS, CPIM, CSCP, or similar certifications.
• Experience supporting DoD, aerospace, ISR, sensor, electronics, or advanced technology products.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is a builder who has successfully created or scaled manufacturing operations in a defense or aerospace environment. They combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution and are equally comfortable evaluating production capacity, negotiating with suppliers, conducting make-vs-buy analyses, and solving day-to-day operational challenges.

They are proactive, data-driven, and transparent, identifying risks before they impact customer commitments and communicating issues early. Most importantly, they understand the unique demands of defense manufacturing and have a proven ability to establish the systems, processes, and teams required to deliver complex products at scale.