Head of Assembly Operations

Kensington Consulting Ltd; Noblesville (IN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kensington Consulting Ltd in Noblesville, Indiana, is seeking a Head of Assembly Operations to build and lead our 3D printer assembly division. The role demands a deep background in electro-mechanical systems, manufacturing engineering, and operations leadership to design processes and the physical environment for scalable production.

You will shape workflows, layouts, tooling, and SOPs, lead a team of technicians and supervisors, and partner with design and quality teams to achieve lean,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in mechanical/electromechanical machine assembly, focusing on complex capital equipment.
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing assembly or production teams.
• Deep understanding of mechanical, electrical, and control system integration.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, process optimization, and production scalability.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize end-to-end assembly processes for 3D printer systems.
• Lead, coach, and develop assembly and testing teams.
• Implement lean manufacturing practices and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain procedures and documentation for SOPs and process control.
• Forecast capacity and plan resources to meet growth.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Lean Manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Become a Head of Assembly Operations to lead and develop our 3D printer assembly division.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in building complex electro-mechanical equipment and a deep understanding of manufacturing engineering principles, process design, and operations leadership.

You will have the unique opportunity to build and shape the assembly division from the ground up, designing both the process and physical environment that will define how our next-generation 3D printers are built. Join a forward-thinking company where innovation, precision, and operational excellence come together to redefine the future of additive manufacturing.

CORE FOCUS OF THE HEAD OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

This leader will be responsible not only for managing production operations but also for designing and optimizing the assembly process, workflows, and factory layout to support efficient, scalable, and high-quality production of our advanced additive manufacturing systems.

DAY-TO-DAY OF THE ROLE

• Assembly Process Design & Optimization
• Design and implement end-to-end assembly processes for 3D printer systems, including subassemblies, integration, and final test stages.
• Develop and refine factory layout, material flow, and workstation design to optimize efficiency, ergonomics, and safety.
• Define tooling, fixtures, and equipment requirements for each assembly stage.
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure products are optimized for manufacturability (DFM) and scalability.

Leadership & Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of assembly and testing technicians, leads, and supervisors.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and safety.
• Establish clear performance metrics for quality, output, and process adherence.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee all day-to-day assembly operations for 3D printer builds.
• Ensure alignment with production schedules, quality standards, and cost targets.
• Maintain accurate documentation SOPs, assembly instructions, and process control documentation.
• Continuous Improvement & Quality
• Drive lean manufacturing initiatives and implement best practices for waste reduction, standardization, and process control.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure products meet internal and external standards before release.
• Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for production issues.

Resource & Capacity Planning

• Plan and allocate labor, space, and equipment to meet growing production demands.
• Forecast assembly throughput and capacity requirements as production scales.
• Participate in capital planning for assembly equipment, tooling, and infrastructure.

SKILLS YOU NEED

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical/electromechanical machine assembly, with a focus on complex capital equipment such as automation systems, robotics, CNC machines, or 3D printers.
• Proven success in designing and implementing assembly processes and layouts for production-scale operations.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role managing assembly or production teams.
• Deep understanding of mechanical, electrical, and control system integration.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, process optimization, and production scalability.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.