Manufacturing Operations Manager

IST Precision Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

IST Precision Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead production operations across machine shop, mechanical build, electrical and panel, and quality groups.

You will own the master production schedule, balance high‑rate repeat production with custom builds, and drive on‑time delivery while maintaining quality and safety. The role reports to the President and requires 7–10 years of manufacturing leadership, with a track record of scaling operations and strong ERP, planning, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 7–10 years in manufacturing, production, or operations management.
• 3+ years leading supervisors, group leads, or managers.
• Experience scaling production from low volume to higher, sustained rate.
• Experience with ERP for production scheduling, inventory, and tracking.

Responsibilities

• Own the master production schedule across all automation and build‑to‑print programs; sequence new machine builds as they come online and hold delivery commitments.
• Balance a repeating, high‑rate production program against custom and one‑off build‑to‑print systems running in parallel.
• Plan machining, purchased parts, and vendor work with the Director of Automation to slot alpha and first‑article builds into the shop.
• Own systems as they transition from alpha into repeat build‑to‑print production and carry them through build, documentation, and delivery.
• Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and capacity constraints before they affect schedule and implement corrective action.
• Drive continuous improvement in build hours, material flow, and rework reduction.
• Lead and develop four group leads; maintain cadence and remove obstacles.
• Create onboarding and training path for the build team to reach productivity quickly.
• Forecast staffing with HR and recruiting and manage production personnel onboarding.
• Set repeatable procedures for receiving and inventory control.
• Promote safe work practices and maintain a clean, organized production floor.
• Provide monthly and weekly production reporting and analytics to leadership.

Skills

Production leadership

Project management

Operations planning

Continuous improvement

ERP systems

Machining & fabrication

Education

BS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

ERP system

Automation equipment

Job description

This position will not sponsor H1B or TN VISA. Candidates should be a US Citizen.

Location: Mooresville, NC (onsite)

Type: Full-time

Base Salary: $120,000 – $160,000, depending on experience

IST Precision Inc. is a machine design and manufacturing company in North Carolina that was established in 2001. We focus on precision instrumentation and automation equipment and have our own fabrication shop, machine design group, controls group, and panel shop. Our systems are used across telecommunications, space, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

Reporting directly to the President, the Manufacturing Operations Manager owns how our machines get built. This position leads production operations across our machine shop, mechanical build, electrical and panel, and quality groups and is accountable for build schedule, throughput, quality, and on-time delivery. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who has taken a manufacturing operation from low volume to repeatable rate production and knows what breaks along the way.

This role is not solely about running one program at rate. Alongside a repeating, high‑rate production line, our teams build custom and one‑off build‑to‑print systems for other customers. The Manufacturing Operations Manager is responsible for making both work on the same floor, without either one derailing the other.

How This Role Fits With Engineering

Our Director of Automation leads new automation development system architecture and design, the first‑article or alpha build, and the detailed engineering characterization and testing that goes with it, working with a team of engineers. That work stays with engineering.

The Manufacturing Operations Manager partners closely with that group throughout. During new system development, this role makes sure machined parts, purchased components, and vendor work are planned, ordered, and slotted into the shop so a new build moves forward without disrupting the production schedule. Once a system is proven and transitions from alpha into repeat build‑to‑print production, it is formally handed over and from that point the Operations Manager owns it: build execution, quality, throughput, and delivery.

Learn more about our automation capabilities and the types of systems we build:

https://istprecision.com/engineering-services/

Key Responsibilities

Production & Schedule

• Own the master production schedule across all automation and build‑to‑print programs; sequence new machine builds as they come online and hold delivery commitments.
• Balance a repeating, high‑rate production program against custom and one‑off build‑to‑print systems running in parallel.
• Work with the Director of Automation during new system development to plan machining, purchased parts, and vendor work, and to slot alpha and first‑article builds into the shop without disrupting the production schedule.
• Take ownership of systems as they transition from alpha into repeat build‑to‑print production, and carry them from that handoff through build, documentation, and delivery.
• Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and capacity constraints before they affect schedule, and implement corrective action.
• Drive continuous improvement in build hours, material flow, and rework reduction.
• Lead and develop four group leads including machine shop, mechanical build, electrical and panel, and quality — running a regular cadence and clearing obstacles before they become delays.
• Build and maintain a practical onboarding and training path as the build team grows, so new technicians reach productivity quickly and consistently.
• Work with HR and recruiting to forecast staffing needs and to add, onboarding, and manage production personnel.
• Set repeatable procedures for receiving and inventory control.
• Promote safe work practices and maintain a clean, organized, and well‑run production floor.

Quality & Standards

• Partner with the electrical group lead on control panel build quality and throughput.
• Work with quality leadership to ensure production machines meet strict customer standards, and support acceptance testing and customer sign‑off prior to shipment.
• Establish and maintain build documentation, work instructions, and inspection records that hold up as systems move into repeat production and volume increases.
• Help mature our production processes and documentation toward formal quality system standards as the business grows.

Facilities & Capital Equipment

• Optimize layout, workflow, and floor space within our current 30,000 square foot facility to support a substantial increase in monthly build throughput.
• Help evaluate, set up, and manage additional facility space as the company expands, including how work and material flow between locations.
• Support the evaluation and stand‑up of expanded in‑house fabrication and weldment capability, likely at a secondary location — process, equipment, staffing, and workflow.
• Partner with the machine shop manager and leadership on capital equipment planning and procurement including machine tools, fixtures, material handling, and test equipment from justification and vendor selection through lead time, installation, and commissioning.
• Operate day to day within our ERP system for scheduling, inventory, and production tracking, and partner with leadership and accounting on its continued build‑out and adoption.
• Work with accounting and leadership to establish build cost and labor‑hour visibility on a per‑machine basis, and report against it.
• Estimate labor hours and build content for new build‑to‑print systems, grounded in actual performance from prior builds.
• Work closely with sales and leadership on new production quotes realistic build timelines, labor estimates, and the capacity impact of taking on new work.
• Provide monthly — and as needed weekly — production reporting and analytics to company leadership covering schedule adherence, throughput, capacity, and risk.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
• 7-10 years of experience in manufacturing, production, or operations management.
• 3+ years leading supervisors, group leads, or managers not solely individual contributors.
• Demonstrated experience scaling a production operation from low volume to a higher, sustained build rate.
• Working experience in an ERP system for production scheduling, inventory, and tracking.
• Strong working understanding of machining, fabrication, mechanical assembly, and electrical build processes.
• Experience planning production capacity, including make‑versus‑buy decisions and managing outside suppliers.
• Critical thinking and problem solving with strong attention to detail able to question, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple sources and recommend a path forward.
• Initiative: doesn't wait to be told. Anticipates issues and proactively works to prevent or resolve them. Operates well independently.
• Flexibility and adaptability: able to manage multiple competing priorities and change direction as required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and the credibility to work effectively with shop floor personnel, engineers, vendors, and executive leadership.
• Willing to work overtime during critical production deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a machine builder, capital equipment manufacturer, or contract manufacturer producing complex electro‑mechanical systems at meaningful volume.
• Background in a high‑mix environment where repeat production and custom one‑off builds run side by side.
• Experience opening, setting up, or managing production across more than one facility.
• Experience justifying and procuring capital equipment, including CNC machine tools and supporting shop infrastructure.
• Experience with electro‑mechanical systems incorporating robotics, machine vision, optics, motion control, and wiring or panel assembly.
• Experience receiving new products or systems from an engineering or R&D group and taking them from first‑article build into repeat production.
• Experience estimating production labor hours and build content, and supporting quoting for new work alongside sales and leadership.
• Experience participating in an ERP implementation, migration, or major expansion.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems, or experience preparing a facility for certification.
• Experience with production floor layout, cell design, and workflow optimization.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement training or certification.
• Experience building production reporting and analytics for executive leadership.
• Experience growing and onboarding a production workforce in partnership with HR and recruiting.
• Familiarity with UL 508A compliant control panel builds.
• Interest in advanced technology, automation, instrumentation, and engineering innovation.

IST Precision offers a competitive salary and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work with a talented team of more than 30 engineers and technicians, make a real impact on the company and its customers, and work in a fast‑paced and challenging engineering environment.