Defense Production Supervisor

IDEX; Longmont (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

IDEX is seeking a Production Supervisor in the Defense value stream to lead daily manufacturing operations on the factory floor with a strong focus on safety, quality, and on-time delivery. You will supervise production employees, translate priorities into actionable daily plans, and drive continuous improvement across the manufacturing workflow.

You will collaborate with cross-functional partners in Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to address issues, optimize staffing, and meet

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity objectives.
• Translate production schedules and priorities into clear daily expectations for the team.
• Prioritize work based on customer demand, constraints, staffing, and available resources.
• Monitor production performance, identify risks to execution, and elevate or adjust priorities as needed.
• Lead daily production meetings and support effective communication of priorities, constraints, and performance.

Job description

If you're looking for a special place to build or grow your career, you've found it. Whether you're an experienced professional, a recent college graduate or somewhere in between, IDEX is a place where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones in an environment where you can make an impact.

With interesting opportunities in engineering, marketing, sales, supply chain, operations, HR, finance, and more across more than 40 diverse businesses around the globe, chances are, we have something special for you.

Position Summary

Advanced Thin Films (ATF) designs and manufactures high-performance optical components for advanced laser applications serving demanding commercial and defense markets.

The Production Supervisor, Defense is responsible for leading daily manufacturing operations within the Defense Value Stream, with a focus on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee performance. This role provides direct leadership to production employees, translates production priorities into daily execution, develops team capability, and drives continuous improvement across the manufacturing floor.

Working closely with the Operations Manager and cross-functional partners including Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain, the Production Supervisor ensures work is prioritized effectively, production issues are addressed, and customer commitments are supported. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong presence on the manufacturing floor and the ability to lead people and processes in a fast-paced, technical manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Production Leadership

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity objectives.
• Translate production schedules and business priorities into clear daily expectations for the team.
• Prioritize work based on customer demand, operational constraints, staffing, and available resources.
• Monitor production performance, identify risks to execution, and elevate or adjust priorities as needed.
• Lead daily production meetings and support effective communication of priorities, constraints, and performance.
• Ensure effective shift handoffs and timely resolution or escalation of production issues.
• Partner with the Operations Manager and Planning on production requirements, resource needs, and capacity constraints.

Safety & Quality

• Reinforce a culture in which employees take responsibility for safe work practices and proactively identify risks.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable requirements.
• Identify potential hazards and support corrective actions to reduce risk.
• Participate in and support safety improvement initiatives.
• Ensure production activities meet established quality standards, process requirements, and customer expectations.
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities and ensure approved dispositions are executed appropriately.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to investigate manufacturing issues and implement corrective actions.
• Reinforce adherence to process controls, standard work, 5S, and applicable quality requirements.

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop production employees to support individual and team performance.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for safety, quality, delivery, productivity, attendance, and company values.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, recognition, and performance management.
• Partner with HR and Operations leadership on employee relations and performance matters as needed.
• Support structured onboarding and training for new employees and employees developing new capabilities.
• Participate in interviewing, selection, onboarding, and workforce planning.
• Identify employee development needs and support cross-training, skill development, and succession planning.
• Participate in the IDEX Talent Review process and other employee development initiatives.

Continuous Improvement & Standard Work

• Lead and participate in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement activities that improve safety, quality, delivery throughput and efficiency.
• Use production data and KPIs to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to improve manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and address recurring production constraints.
• Support the development, implementation, and sustainment of standardized work and manufacturing best practices.
• Ensure employees are trained to current work instructions, procedures, and standard work.
• Identify documentation gaps or improvement needs and partner with appropriate functions to ensure manufacturing documentation remains accurate and effective.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Planning, Engineering, Quality Supply Chain Commercial, and other functions to resolve production challenges and support customer commitments.
• Communicate production risks, resource constraints, quality concerns, an