Manager of Special Process

CHawk Technology Int'l, Inc.; Phoenix, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CHawk Technology Int'l, Inc. is seeking a Manager of Special Processes to lead Gold, Nickel, and Electroless Nickel plating operations in Phoenix.

You will drive technical execution, quality performance, and regulatory compliance across production, laboratory coordination, and personnel development. The role requires 7–10 years in plating or related manufacturing and 3–5 years in supervision, with experience in NADCAP, ISO 9001, and aerospace/defense environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years of plating or special process manufacturing experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years of management or supervisory experience.
• Hands-on experience managing Gold Plating Operations, Electrolytic Nickel Plating, and Electroless Nickel Plating.
• Experience in Semiconductor, aerospace, defense, electronics, medical device, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting NADCAP-accredited operations.
• Certifications such as Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, CQE, CMQ/OE, NADCAP Special Process Training, Lean are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all plating operations (Gold, Nickel, Electroless Nickel) and ensure chemistry performance.
• Ensure production schedules are met with high quality and safety benchmarks.
• Oversee laboratory coordination, process control, and documentation accuracy.
• Drive continuous improvement focused on safety, quality, productivity, and cost reduction.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 9001, NADCAP, AS9100, OSHA, EPA, and environmental regulations.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and technicians; conduct performance reviews.

Skills

Gold Plating

Nickel Plating

Process Control

Regulatory Compliance

NADCAP AS9100

Job description

The Manager of Special Processes is responsible for the daily leadership, technical execution, quality performance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement of all Gold, Nickel, and Electroless Nickel plating operations. This position manages production, process control, laboratory coordination, personnel development, equipment maintenance, customer compliance, and military specification requirements while ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are achieved.

The Manager serves as the primary operational leader for all plating activities and is responsible for maintaining process integrity and compliance with Industrial standards and quality standards ISO9001:2015, NADCAP, AS9100, military specifications, aerospace standards, and customer-specific requirements.

This role requires daily on-site presence at our manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

Key Responsibilities (but not limited to):

• Lead and manage all Gold, Nickel, and Electroless Nickel plating operations. To assure chemistry performance
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining the highest quality standards.
• Partner with operation to monitor daily throughput, yields, efficiency, labor utilization, and operational performance of the plating lines.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, training, and workforce development activities of the assigned teams
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and cost reduction.
• Ensure compliance with all work instructions, process specifications, and operating procedures.
• Partner with laboratory personnel to maintain bath chemistry and analytical testing programs.
• Monitor:
  • Metal concentrations
  • pH levels
  • Temperature controls
  • Additive concentrations
  • Contaminant levels
  • Filtration effectiveness
• Ensure accurate laboratory documentation and testing records.
• Coordinate chemical additions and bath maintenance activities.
• Work directly with chemical suppliers to optimize process performance.
• Coordinate chemical additions and bath maintenance activities.
• Work directly with chemical suppliers to optimize process performance.
• Review and approve process parameters and operating windows.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, lead operators, technicians, and support personnel.
• Conduct performance evaluations and development planning.
• Build a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain workforce training and certification records.
• Support succession planning and employee engagement initiatives.
• Ensure quality and regulatory compliance with:
  • AS9100
  • ISO 9001
  • NADCAP Chemical Processing
  • NADCAP Laboratory Requirements
  • OSHA Regulations
  • EPA Regulations
  • State and Local Environmental Requirements
• Support customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Lead corrective and preventive action programs.
• Monitor process control systems and statistical performance data.
• Ensure all process certifications and operator qualifications remain current.
• Review and disposition non-conforming product as required.
• Maintain technical oversight of:
  • Gold Plating
  • Hard Gold Plating
  • Soft Gold Plating
  • Electrolytic Nickel Plating
  • Electroless Nickel Plating
  • Surface Preparation Processes
  • Cleaning and Activation Processes
  • Stripping Operations
  • Masking Operations
  • Post-Plating Treatments
• Review and approve process parameters and operating windows.
• Monitor plating bath performance and chemistry trends.
• Ensure process capability and product conformity requirements are consistently achieved.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts related to plating defects, non-conformances, and customer complaints.
• Follows Company guidelines for managing confidential information, customer satisfaction and working with GTI personnel
  • Follow safety practices such as: washing hands, wearing any required PPE for the position
  • Ensures satisfactory maintenance, appearance and condition of assigned area to comply with security, safety and environmental codes and ordinances
  • Enforces compliance with all local, state, federal regulations and company policy pertaining to safety and loss prevention
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Precious Metal Plating Technologies
  • Electroless Nickel Chemistry
  • Surface Preparation Processes
  • OSHA Safety Training

Qualifications:

• Minimum 7-10 years of plating or special process manufacturing experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years of management or supervisory experience.
• Hands-on experience managing:
  • Gold Plating Operations
  • Electrolytic Nickel Plating
  • Electroless Nickel Plating
• Experience in Semiconductor, aerospace, defense, electronics, medical device, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting NADCAP-accredited operations.
• Demonstrated success managing semiconductor, military and aerospace process compliance programs.
• Certifications a plus:
  • Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
  • ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
  • ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
  • NADCAP Special Process Training
  • Lean Manufacturing Certification