Director of Production

Judge Consulting Group; Grand Prairie (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Judge Consulting Group seeks a hands-on Director of Production to lead and scale manufacturing operations for a fast-growing defense technology company. This leader will own end-to-end production, including assembly, production planning, supply chain, logistics, material flow, inventory, and kitting.

The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing leadership with a startup mindset, working on the floor and at executive planning level to build systems, processes, and teams for significant

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, operations, supply chain, or related environments.
• 5+ years leading manufacturing or production teams.
• Experience owning production operations involving assembly, materials, supply chain, logistics, inventory, and/or kitting.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning.
• Strong understanding of BOMs, work orders, production schedules, inventory control, material requirements, and manufacturing KPIs.
• Experience building processes rather than simply operating within established systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day production and assembly operations across the manufacturing floor.
• Own production schedules, capacity planning, staffing requirements, throughput, and on‑time delivery.
• Establish scalable production processes capable of supporting prototype, low‑rate initial production, and higher‑volume manufacturing.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Quality to transition new products from development into repeatable production.
• Identify and eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks using Lean manufacturing, root‑cause analysis, standard work, and continuous improvement.
• Build production KPIs around output, schedule attainment, cycle time, first‑pass yield, rework, quality, and labor productivity.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Production planning

Lean manufacturing

ERP/MRP experience

BOMs & schedules

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Industry: Defense Technology / Advanced Manufacturing

Reports To: VP of Operations / COO

Environment: High-growth, fast-paced defense startup

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands‑on Director of Production to lead and scale manufacturing operations for a rapidly growing defense technology company. This leader will own the end‑to‑end production operation, including assembly, production planning, supply chain, logistics, material flow, inventory, and kitting.

The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing leadership with a startup mindset. This person must be comfortable moving between the production floor and executive‑level planning, solving immediate operational problems while building the systems, processes, and team required to support significant growth.

This role will be accountable for ensuring materials are available when needed, production is properly staffed and scheduled, kits are complete and accurate, assemblies meet quality requirements, and finished products are delivered on time.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day production and assembly operations across the manufacturing floor.
• Own production schedules, capacity planning, staffing requirements, throughput, and on‑time delivery.
• Establish scalable production processes capable of supporting prototype, low‑rate initial production, and higher‑volume manufacturing.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Quality to transition new products from development into repeatable production.
• Identify and eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks using Lean manufacturing, root‑cause analysis, standard work, and continuous improvement.
• Build production KPIs around output, schedule attainment, cycle time, first‑pass yield, rework, quality, and labor productivity.

Supply Chain & Material Planning

• Own material availability across the production organization.
• Partner with sourcing and procurement to ensure components, raw materials, and subassemblies arrive in line with production requirements.
• Establish demand planning, material planning, shortage management, and supplier escalation processes.
• Identify long‑lead, single‑source, and mission‑critical components that could impact production.
• Improve supplier performance related to quality, cost, lead time, and delivery.
• Develop contingency plans for critical supply‑chain constraints.
• Build and manage efficient warehouse‑to‑production material flow.
• Establish reliable kitting processes that ensure technicians and assemblers receive complete and accurate kits when production begins.
• Improve inventory accuracy, cycle counting, material traceability, and point‑of‑use inventory.
• Reduce shortages, line stoppages, excess inventory, and work‑in‑process.
• Implement clear processes for receiving inspection, inventory control, picking, staging, kitting, and production replenishment.

Logistics

• Oversee inbound and outbound logistics supporting production and customer delivery.
• Coordinate shipment of raw materials, components, finished assemblies, and customer deliverables.
• Ensure logistics processes meet applicable defense, security, export‑control, and customer requirements.
• Establish scalable shipping, receiving, packaging, documentation, and transportation processes.

Leadership & Scaling

• Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing organization across production, assembly, materials, kitting, warehouse, supply chain, and logistics.
• Hire and develop supervisors, production managers, planners, technicians, assemblers, material handlers, and other operational personnel as the organization grows.
• Establish clear ownership, accountability, operating rhythms, and performance expectations.
• Create a production culture focused on speed, quality, accountability, safety, and mission execution.
• Develop operating capacity capable of supporting aggressive company growth and customer demand.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner closely with:

• Manufacturing Engineering
• Quality
• Procurement
• Program Management
• Mission/Product Operations
• Finance
• Business Operations

Ensure engineering changes, production priorities, material requirements, customer commitments, and delivery schedules are aligned across the organization.

Qualifications

Required

• 10-15+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, operations, supply chain, or related environments.
• 5+ years leading manufacturing or production teams.
• Experience owning production operations involving assembly, materials, supply chain, logistics, inventory, and/or kitting.
• Demonstrated ability to scale a manufacturing operation from lower‑volume production into higher‑rate production.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning.
• Strong understanding of BOMs, work orders, production schedules, inventory control, material requirements, and manufacturing KPIs.
• Experience building processes rather than simply operating within established systems.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and willingness to work directly with teams on the production floor.
• Ability to operate effectively in an environment where priorities, production requirements, and customer demands can change quickly.

Preferred

• Experience within defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, drones/UAS, missiles, space, maritime systems, or advanced hardware manufacturing.
• Experience scaling a venture‑backed or high‑growth manufacturing organization.
• Experience supporting NPI through production ramp and rate manufacturing.
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, PFMEA, root‑cause analysis, and corrective‑action processes.
• Experience operating within ITAR/export‑controlled environments.
• Experience working with vertically integrated electromechanical products involving mechanical assemblies, electronics, wiring, sensors, propulsion, or complex hardware.