Manufacturing Operations Manager

Picklerobot; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Unlimited vacation

401(k) contributions

Job summary

Pickle Robot Company is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead production and MES implementation for robotic systems, including on‑floor supervision, scheduling, and continuous improvement. You will own MES workflows, digital work instructions, and data capture across cycle times, yields, and traceability.

The role requires 5+ years in high‑mix hardware manufacturing, strong leadership, and hands‑on experience with MES platforms (Tulip preferred).

Qualifications

• 5+ years in manufacturing operations in robotics or high-mix hardware.
• Experience implementing an MES from the ground up (Tulip strongly preferred).
• Comfortable being on the production floor daily and leading diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations for production/assembly of robotic systems and subassemblies.
• Lead root cause analysis on defects, quality escapes, and process deviations.
• Own production scheduling, capacity planning, and staffing for the area.
• Lead MES implementation, configuration, and rollout; build digital work instructions and dashboards.
• Train assemblers and technicians on new digital workflows; drive adoption and change.

Skills

Leadership

Lean/Six Sigma

On-floor experience

Data-driven improvement

OEE knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Tulip MES

MES software

Job description

About Us

At Pickle Robot, we're on a mission to automate global supply chains with Physical AI. Our robots work alongside warehouse teams to unload trucks and containers — one of the toughest, most understaffed jobs in logistics — making the work safer, faster, and more efficient for the people doing it. Loading trucks comes next, followed by the Dill Autonomy Engine: generalized autonomy that will eventually orchestrate robots across entire logistics processes.

We're looking for a hands‑on Manufacturing Operations Managerto run production of our robotic systems and own our MES (Manufacturing Execution System) implementation — ideally with Tulip. You'll be on the floor daily, understand the build process for complex robotic hardware, and directly configure and deploy digital workflows that replace paper-based processes, giving the business real-time production visibility.

Manufacturing Operations

• Manage day-to-day operations for production/assembly of robotic systems (arms, cabinets, end effectors, and related subassemblies)
• Understand mechanical assembly, wiring/harnessing, electro-mechanical integration, and functional test steps well enough to troubleshoot directly with technicians
• Lead root cause analysis on build defects, quality escapes, and process deviations
• Own production scheduling, capacity planning, and staffing for your area
• Drive continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) across assembly lines and test stations
• Partner with mechanical/electrical/manufacturing engineering on new product introductions (NPI), ensuring assembly processes and MES workflows are designed in from the start
• Manage and develop a team of technicians/assemblers, including performance reviews and coaching

MES Implementation & Ownership

• Lead the implementation, configuration, and rollout of MES software
• Build and maintain digital work instructions, operator apps, and andon/alert workflows, and data collection stations within the MES platform
• Integrate MES with test equipment, torque tools, scanners, and fixtures to capture real-time production data (cycle time, first-pass yield, scrap, downtime reasons)
• Train assemblers, technicians, and supervisors on new digital workflows; drive adoption and resolve resistance to change
• Build dashboards and reporting from MES data to give leadership visibility into production performance and traceability (especially serialized component/subassembly tracking)

• 5+ years in manufacturing operations, ideally within robotics, complex electro-mechanical assembly, or similar high-mix/precision hardware manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience implementing an MES system from the ground up — not just using one already in place. Tulip experience strongly preferred; will consider comparable platforms
• Comfortable being on the floor daily — not a desk-only role
• Understanding of OEE, first-pass yield, downtime tracking, and how to translate shop‑floor data into actionable improvement
• Strong people leadership skills, including experience managing technicians/assemblers
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent hands‑on experience)
• Preferred: Lean/Six Sigma certification

Pay at Pickle

At Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.

Pickle Perks

Pickle provides best‑in‑class benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; unlimited vacation; paid federal and state holidays; 401(k) contributions of 5% of your salary; company‑covered travel expenses; and other perks to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive.