Manufacturing Operations Manager

AeroVironment; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 123,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401K with company match

9/80 schedule

Paid holidays

Job summary

AeroVironment in Germantown, MD is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead daily operations of a high-mix facility supporting both early R&D prototyping and mid-volume production.

The role requires managing a team of engineers and technicians, guiding production from prototype to full-rate production, and aligning with cross-functional partners to meet delivery and quality goals. U.S. citizenship and security clearances may apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing, industrial, systems, mechanical, or electrical engineering or in a related STEM field.
• 8 years’ experience in manufacturing project leadership, including 2 years’ experience leading or managing a team.
• Knowledge of product development or manufacturing projects for electro/mechanical products with rigorous documentation requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a talented team of Manufacturing Engineers and technicians.
• Lead program manufacturing and transition efforts from prototype to LRIP and FRP.
• Build agile capabilities to support quick turn product development and emergent customer needs.
• Establish short- and long-term production goals including staff growth and equipment improvements.
• Create a culture of inclusivity, pride-in-work, continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Ensure adherence to customer quality requirements.

Skills

Leadership experience

DoD security clearance

Documentation in electro/mechanical

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering

Job description

Germantown, MD

Full time

8547

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

At AV, we design, prototype, assemble, integrate, and test cutting-edge technologies in advanced RF systems, space electronics, and directed energy solutions. Your work will have a lasting impact—extending far beyond any single program, product, or site. We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Operations Manager r to lead the daily operations of one of our division’s manufacturing areas. This high-mix facility supports both early R&D prototyping and mid-volume rapid capability production.

The ideal candidate will excel in managing dynamic priorities, dispatching and expediting work in response to evolving engineering developments, shifting customer requirements, and changing production capacity. The operation encompasses full product assembly—from electrical cable fabrication through system integration and final testing on vehicles and other delivery platforms.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a talented team of Manufacturing Engineers and technicians
• Lead program manufacturing and transition efforts from prototype to low-rate initial production (LRIP), to full-rate production (FRP)
• Build agile capabilities to support quick turn product development, development builds, and emergent customer needs
• Establish short- and long-term goals for production including staff growth, equipment and work center improvements, and overall productivity
• Create a culture of inclusivity, pride-in-work, continuous improvement, and innovation
• Understand and facilitate the adherence to customer quality requirements
• Manage activities concerned with technical developments, scheduling, and resolving engineering design and test problems found during assembly, integration and test.
• Support Operations through collaboration with cross functional teams, including Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing and Engineering, Parts Production
• Control, Business Development, Finance, and Business Capture personnel
• Interact across all levels of the organization; efficiently and effectively communicate and implement agreed upon changes; navigate difficult situations and conversations to a productive outcome

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing, industrial, systems, mechanical, or electrical engineering or in a related STEM field.
• 8 years’ experience in manufacturing project leadership, including 2 years’ experience leading or managing a team (direct or matrix).
• Knowledge of product development or manufacturing projects for electro/mechanical products with rigorous documentation requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing, industrial, systems, mechanical, or electrical engineering or in a related STEM field.
• 8 years’ experience in manufacturing project leadership, including 2 years’ experience leading or managing a team (direct or matrix).
• Knowledge of product development or manufacturing projects for electro/mechanical products with rigorous documentation requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance

Desired Experience

• Active DOE or DOD security clearance
• Cost Account Manager (CAM) experience.
• Writing or reviewing production cost estimates and capital equipment plans.
• Aerospace or defense systems Electro-Optics, RF systems, PCBA, electrical, mechanical assembly experience or experience in a similar hardware type processing facility.
• Lean Manufacturing experience and/or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certifications.
• Understanding of weld certification/process and IPC soldering standards. Experience with circuit card, harness, and system assembly.
• Understanding of typical factory OSHA requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multiple levels of executives and first-line management, industry peers, direct reports and internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and prioritize work given dynamic information
• Demonstrated ability to develop, manage and understand budgets, cost reports, quality assurance documentation, and integrated schedules.
• Proven communication and collaboration skills between development engineering and manufacturing.
• Capacity planning and resource loading schedule experience. Experience using MRP/ERP systems to manage forecast work, prototype, and production programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multiple levels of executives and first-line management, industry peers, direct reports and internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and prioritize work given dynamic information
• Demonstrated ability to develop, manage and understand budgets, cost reports, quality assurance documentation, and integrated schedules.
• Proven communication and collaboration skills between development engineering and manufacturing.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)

Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$122,500 - $187,000

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits : AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits .

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Careers at AeroVironment (https://www.avinc.com/careers/our-team)