General Manager, Aerospace

Lincoln Electric; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincoln Electric is seeking a General Manager for its Macomb, Michigan site, with full P&L responsibility for a defense‑focused manufacturing facility. You will lead a multi‑plant operation, ensure secure delivery of high‑reliability products, and manage complex regulatory, export control, and security requirements in a fast‑paced, government‑driven environment.

The role requires deep experience in aerospace/defense manufacturing, ability to navigate ITAR/DFARS and security disciplines, and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years leadership experience in aerospace/defense manufacturing.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership for a manufacturing site or unit.
• Strong knowledge of government contracting, ITAR/DFARS, and security requirements.
• Experience working in ISO and AS9100 environments.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Strategic and Financial Leadership of the Macomb, MI site.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans and long‑range defense program strategies.
• Achieve profitability goals through pricing, cost control, and capital investment.
• Oversee budgets, capital expenditures, and planning within delegated authority.
• Lead cross‑site collaboration and defense program execution.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and export controls and audits.

Skills

P&L ownership

Aerospace/defense

Regulatory compliance

ITAR/DFARS

Security clearance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert

Lincoln Electric is a high-performance industrial machinery and technology leader who helps customers manufacture and maintain vital equipment and infrastructure. Lincoln Electric’s innovative solutions enable higher quality and productivity across a variety of processes including welding, cutting, brazing, machining, process automation, and field repair. The Company leverages proprietary technologies and expertise in materials science, power electronics, automation, and intelligent software to help customers build better and achieve resilience in their operations. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric is the essential ‘Linc’ that keeps the economy running. The Company operates 71 manufacturing and automation facilities across 20 countries and serves customers in over 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company’s website at https://www.lincolnelectric.com .

Primary Function

The General Manager serves as the senior site leader with full P&L responsibility for a $50–$100M defense‑focused aerospace manufacturing facility. This role is accountable for secure delivery of high‑reliability products and systems supporting U.S. Department of Defense, aerospace prime contractors, and classified customer programs. The role requires deep experience operating in highly regulated, export‑controlled, and security‑sensitive environments, including ITAR, DFARS, NIST 800‑171, and classified program execution. The GM leads all functional disciplines and ensures the facility consistently meets mission‑critical delivery, quality, compliance, and security expectations.

Responsibilities

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The General Manager leads a multi-plant, defense focused manufacturing group of facilities with full P&L responsibility. The General Manager is responsible for site leadership, strategic execution and alignment, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, and profitability. The General Manager leads all functional areas and develops a high-performing management team to achieve short-term and long-term business goals aligned with strategic growth objectives. This role is accountable for delivery of tooling, hardware, and cross-site collaboration and project execution supporting a broad range of government, aerospace, and defense projects and programs. The role requires deep experience operating in highly regulated, export controlled, and security sensitive environments. The General Manager leads all functional disciplines and ensures the facilities consistently meets mission critical delivery, quality, and compliance expectations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic and Financial Leadership

• Full profit and loss (P&L) ownership for the Macomb, Michigan site
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, budgets, and long range defense program strategies
• Achieve profitability goals through effective pricing, cost control, and disciplined capital investment
• Review and approve budgets, capital expenditures and planning, customer and supplier contracts within delegated authority
• Develop and execute short-term and long-term business plans consistent with company strategy and financial objectives
• Deliver accurate forecasts, operational reports including challenges and corrective actions, strategic initiatives, and performance updates to executive leadership

Manufacturing and Operational Excellence

• Establish, monitor, and achieve performance goals across all operations
• Sponsor continuous improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity
• Establish and ensure effective production systems and processes across all manufacturing areas including machining, fabrication, assembly, inspection, and quality assurance
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, capacity utilization and planning, and resource allocation to ensure on-time, in-full, on-budget execution
• Develop and coach functional leaders and teams to improve manufacturing performance and meet manufacturing goals
• Champion operational modernization and capability development aligned to strategy goals
• Lead defense program risk management related to supply chain, delivery, and compliance
• Ensure flawless execution of new and existing defense programs involving long lead times, configuration control, and change management

Safety, Quality, and Compliance

• Champion a zero injury safety culture across all operations focusing on Human and Organizational Performance philosophy
• Ensure compliance with all applicable aerospace, cybersecurity, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements (CMMC, AS9100, ISO, UL, CE, OSHA, EPA, and other agencies)
• Enforce physical, cyber, and information security protocols required for controlled data stewardship
• Act as senior site representative during DCMA, DCAA, customer, and government audits ensuring compliances with government contract requirements
• Maintain open and effective communication across all departments and with stakeholders
• Maintain robust manufacturing methods, supplier management, First Article Inspection (FAI), change management, and traceability systems

Customer and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary site executive for government stakeholders and GADS customers
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers, government stakeholders and Lincoln Electric partners
• Support sales and business development initiatives in new defense contract pursuits and site capability assessments
• Lead customer quality reviews, program health, and compliance performance
• Represent the company within aerospace, manufacturing, and trade associations

Talent Management and Development

• Set the example for practicing company values and demonstrating professional ethics and integrity
• Foster a culture of integrity, candor, ownership, agility, and teamwork
• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to department leaders and management staff
• Partner with HR on workforce planning, labor relations, and compliance with government labor requirements, organizational structures, talent development, performance management, and succession strategies aligned with business objectives

Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related discipline
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in aerospace and defense manufacturing operations
• Demonstrated P&L ownership for a manufacturing site or major business unit
• Strong working knowledge of government contracting, AS9100, ITAR, DFARS, and security requirements
• Experience working in ISO and AS9100 environments
• Proven experience leading through government audits and customer program reviews
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance as required

Preferred

• MBA or advanced technical degree
• Familiarity with CMMC implementation and cybersecurity compliance
• Experience working with major aerospace defense primes (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense)
• Strong business acumen with expertise in operations management
• Proven decision making, problem solving, and leadership skills
• Strong technical knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes including tooling, flight hardware, and automation

Physical Demands

The physical demands listed are representative of those required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation may be provided for individuals with disabilities. Employees frequently stand, walk, reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and work from ladders or scaffolds; sitting is occasional. The role requires regularly lifting to 10 pounds, frequently up to 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds. Close vision is required.

The work environment described reflects typical conditions encountered in this role. Reasonable accommodation may be provided for individuals with disabilities.Employees are regularly exposed to electrical shock hazards and frequently to moving mechanical parts.

Export Control Disclaimer

This position will include access to data, technology, and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Employment with The Lincoln Electric Company (D/B/A Baker Industries) is contingent upon either verifying U.S. person status or obtaining any necessary authorizations. Applicants will be required to answer certain questions for export control purposes and information will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law. The Lincoln Electric Company, at its sole discretion, may choose not to apply for a license for such individuals as whose access to export‑controlled data, technology, and/or software source code may require authorization. The Lincoln Electric Company may also decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.

Harassment Policy

Workplace harassment of any kind based on protected characteristics is prohibited. Interference with an employee’s ability to perform job duties may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Disclaimer

This position may have access to various types of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and/or information and tangible items subject to U.S. export controls, as well as be subject to certain customer/contractual requirements. Therefore, the individual selected for the position may be required to meet certain citizenship, immigration, and/or location‑related requirements, as well as screenings, background checks and additional training. The Company, in its sole discretion, will determine whether to seek a contractual waiver or regulatory export authorization if required.

Employment is contingent upon meeting applicable qualifications, as determined by the Company, as well as adhering to all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

This job description may not include all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be modified at any time at the Employer’s sole discretion.

Lincoln Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting equal employment opportunity for applicants, without regard to their race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to, lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Nearest Major Market: Detroit
Job Segment: Quality Assurance, Machinist, Fabrication, Information Security, Welding, Technology, Manufacturing