Director of Operations Strategy & Ops

Frontdoor Defense; Lawton, Northern (OK, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & vision

Employee assistance program

9/80 schedule

Snacks on site

Mentorship opportunities

Job summary

Firehawk Aerospace seeks an Operations Director to lead daily production and test operations at its Lawton, OK facility. You will drive safety, quality, and regulatory compliance while guiding cross-functional teams in propellant manufacture, testing, and aerospace manufacturing.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in engineering or facility operations within aerospace or defense, with proven leadership, continuous improvement, and the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Operations Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years' experience in engineering, facility operations, industrial maintenance, or site management.
• Experience leading manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or technical R&D environments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA, EHS, NFPA, and facility safety standards.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD-issued security clearance.
• Ability to travel between sites up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Oversee facility production operations and drive a culture of execution excellence
• Operations include: AP Grinding, Propellant Manufacture, Motor Manufacture, Inspection, Assembly, and Test
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EHS, ATF, NFPA, environmental, and local regulatory requirements
• Director will have director oversight of onsite: Operations, facilities, quality, safety, logistics, and engineering
• Manage facility maintenance programs, including preventive, scheduled, and corrective maintenance
• Maintain readiness of utilities, HVAC, compressed gas systems, power distribution, fire suppression systems, and high-hazard test infrastructure
• Partner with programs, engineering, safety, and quality teams to support production readiness and site efficiency
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance facility safety, reliability, and operational capability
• Support emergency response planning and site risk mitigation activities
• Maintain documentation for inspections, compliance audits, facility records, and regulatory reporting

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Operations management

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Facilities/Operations

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Job description

Director of Operations

Lead and optimize daily production and test operations at the Lawton facility.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

About The Role

Operations Director

Firehawk is at the forefront of solid rocket motor manufacturing and advanced propulsion development. Our teams utilize additive manufacturing, precision assembly, and next-generation testing capabilities to deliver safer, more reliable, and cost-effective propulsion solutions supporting both government and commercial missions. The Operations Director will be a critical leader ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality operations across production and test activities.

Job Summary: The Operations Director is responsible for overseeing daily operations at Firehawk's over 300 acre production facility in Lawton, OK. This role ensures adherence to safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and schedule requirements while leading cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate has strong experience managing manufacturing operations, inventory management, test operations, and facility leadership, with an emphasis on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee facility production operations and drive a culture of execution excellence
• Operations include: AP Grinding, Propellant Manufacture, Motor Manufacture, Inspection, Assembly, and Test
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EHS, ATF, NFPA, environmental, and local regulatory requirements
• Director will have director oversight of onsite: Operations, facilities, quality, safety, logistics, and engineering
• Manage facility maintenance programs, including preventive, scheduled, and corrective maintenance
• Maintain readiness of utilities, HVAC, compressed gas systems, power distribution, fire suppression systems, and high-hazard test infrastructure
• Partner with programs, engineering, safety, and quality teams to support production readiness and site efficiency
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance facility safety, reliability, and operational capability
• Support emergency response planning and site risk mitigation activities
• Maintain documentation for inspections, compliance audits, facility records, and regulatory reporting

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Operations Management, or related field
• Minimum of 15 years' experience in engineering, facility operations, industrial maintenance, or site management
• Experience leading manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or technical Research and Development environments
• Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA, EHS, NFPA, and facility safety standards
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD-issued security clearance
• Ability to travel between sites up to 10%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with energetic materials or hazardous test environments
• Background in rocket motor manufacturing, test sites, or propulsion development facilities
• Experience managing high rate production environments
• Experience with design for automation and implementation of automated systems
• Familiarity with Deltek Costpoint or similar ERP systems
• Certification in facilities management, project management, lean manufacturing, or Six Sigma

ITAR Requirements:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

This position requires mobility to work in manufacturing and test environments, including standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 25 pounds. The role may require use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety footwear, hearing protection, and flame-resistant clothing. The position may involve working varying shifts based on production and testing schedules.

Security Clearance:

May be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance at the appropriate level. Requires U.S. Citizenship and ability to meet federal requirements for access to sensitive information.

Benefits at Firehawk Aerospace:

• 100% employer-paid medical premiums for employees and up to 75% for dependents on select plans.
• Affordable dental and vision plans with broad coverage options.
• Employee Assistance Program with counseling, legal services, and wellness support.
• Flexible 9/80 work schedule option.
• On-site snacks and refreshments.
• Mentorship opportunities and involvement in cutting-edge aerospace projects.

Firehawk Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Firehawk is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firehawk is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.