Manufacturing Leader

Sciton; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity/Stock incentive

Profit-sharing bonus

401(K) with matching

Job summary

Sciton, a Silicon Valley leader in laser, light, and energy technologies, seeks a Manufacturing Leader in Palo Alto to guide Manufacturing, Shipping and Receiving, Planning, and Purchasing. You will drive operational excellence, scale processes for growth, and partner closely with Engineering, Quality, Service, and Facilities to develop a high-performing manufacturing organization.

Your focus will be on achieving on-time delivery, cost optimization, and readiness for new products from

Qualifications

• Must have proven leadership in manufacturing operations within a high-quality production environment.
• 5+ years in progressive manufacturing leadership with 10+ direct reports.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, manufacturing processes, inventory management and supply chain operations.
• Experience driving Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience partnering with Engineering and cross-functional teams to bring new products from development into production.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Manufacturing, Shipping & Receiving, Planning, and Purchasing teams with clear expectations and performance goals.
• Own production planning and execution to achieve schedules and on-time delivery.
• Develop capacity, staffing, facilities, equipment, and resource plans for current operations and future growth.
• Drive continuous improvement for reliability, quality, productivity, and cost reduction.

Skills

Leadership experience

5+ years leadership

Production planning

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Data-driven

People leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain Management, Business

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Sciton is a Silicon Valley based pioneer in laser, light, and energy technologies for aesthetic and medical applications. Our engineers brought laser products to market just a few years after lasers were first invented, and that same spirit of innovation still drives us today.

We are built on a strong set of values: Selflessness, Candor, Innovation, Execution, Objectivity, Excellence, Learning, Ownership, and Clarity. With more than 500 employees worldwide, Sciton has been recognized as a USA TODAY Top Workplace for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025.

If you want to lead a high-performing manufacturing organization, drive operational excellence, and help bring innovative medical technology from development into production, we would love to meet you.

Position Summary

As a Manufacturing Leader, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for Sciton’s Manufacturing, Shipping and Receiving, Planning, and Purchasing functions. You will ensure the organization has the people, processes, capacity, and resources needed to meet production commitments, achieve on-time delivery, and support Sciton’s continued growth.

You will lead initiatives focused on operational excellence, quality, reliability, cost, cycle time, and scalability while partnering closely with Engineering, Quality, Service, Facilities, and other functional leaders. You will also play a key role in bringing new products from development into production and developing a high-performing manufacturing organization.

What You’ll Work On

• Lead and develop Manufacturing, Shipping and Receiving, Planning, and Purchasing teams, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance goals.
• Own production planning and execution to achieve production schedules, on-time delivery, and business commitments.
• Develop manufacturing capacity, staffing, facilities, equipment, and resource plans to support current operations and future growth.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on product reliability, quality, productivity, cost reduction, inventory optimization, and cycle-time reduction.
• Monitor manufacturing and operational KPIs and implement action plans to improve performance.
• Partner with Engineering on New Product Introduction (NPI), including prototype and pilot builds, manufacturing readiness, equipment procurement, process development, and production ramp-up.
• Drive manufacturing process improvements, including Bill of Material updates, method changes, MRB/NCR disposition, and corrective actions.
• Establish and implement best practices for manufacturing operations, inventory management, material flow, and shipping.
• Partner with Service, Quality, Facilities, and other functions to resolve operational issues and improve the customer experience.
• Lead manufacturing operations through ISO, TUV, FDA, customer, and other applicable audits while maintaining a strong culture of safety and compliance.
• Participate in revenue forecasting, budgeting, and long-range operational planning.
• Coach, mentor, and develop employees to build a strong, accountable, and high-performing team.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven leadership experience in manufacturing operations within a complex, high-quality production environment.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including management of 10+ direct reports.
• Strong understanding of production planning, manufacturing processes, inventory management, and supply chain operations.
• Demonstrated success driving Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience partnering with Engineering and cross-functional teams to bring new products from development into production.
• Strong project management, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to use operational data and KPIs to identify opportunities and drive measurable improvements.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to develop and motivate teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience in medical device, laser, optics, electronics, or other highly engineered products.
• Manufacturing engineering or quality engineering background.
• Experience working in FDA- or ISO-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) and production ramp-up.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing planning tools.
• Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement certification.
• Experience with facility planning, equipment procurement, and manufacturingspace optimization.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $125k - $150k. In addition to a competitive market-based salary, Sciton provides an opportunity to participate in equity/stock incentive programs, a profit-sharing bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package, including 401(K) with matching.

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME: Full-Time

POSITION: Manufacturing Leader

LOCATION: Palo Alto, CA (HQ)