Manufacturing Operations Manager – Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS / PCBA)

Zohorecruit; Seymour (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Zohorecruit is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Manager for an EMS/PCBA facility in Seymour, CT. The role provides strategic and tactical leadership across manufacturing, engineering, and technical operations, focusing on SQDCP—Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People.

You will drive lean enterprise deployment, Tiered management, and capacity planning using ERP/MRP and JobPack, while advancing NPI with DFM/DFT and ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100D and ITAR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 8–10 years of progressive operational and engineering leadership experience in EMS/PCBA.
• Experience in highly regulated sectors (Aerospace, Defense, Medical Devices).
• Strong understanding of EMS operations: SMT, PTH, conformal coating, box build, and test systems.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt preferred, with tiered shop-floor leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop high‑performing operational and technical teams with succession planning.
• Drive SQDCP metrics and tiered daily management systems.
• Plan and schedule production using ERP/MRP and JobPack to balance lines.
• Improve OEE via SMED, capacity modelling, and live floor telemetry.
• Lead Lean initiatives (VSM, 5S, Kaizen) and structured problem solving (8D, A3, DMAIC).
• Collaborate with engineering on DFM/DFT for NPI ramp and cost baselines.
• Direct CapEx initiatives for SMT platforms and automated systems; manage ROI analyses.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100D, ITAR; manage budgets and margin strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Lean Six Sigma

ERP/MRP

Capacity Planning

Root Cause Analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

Tools

JobPack

CAD software

Excel

MS Office

Job description

Manufacturing Operations Manager – Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS / PCBA)

Manufacturing Operations Manager – Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS / PCBA)

Location: Seymour, CT

Position Type: Full-Time

Department: Manufacturing Operations & Technical Leadership

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) / Contract Manufacturing

Position Overview

The Manufacturing Operations Manager provides strategic and tactical leadership across all plant manufacturing, engineering, and technical operations within a high-mix, low-to-medium volume Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) facility. Accountable for operational excellence across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP), this leader drives predictable execution, maximises asset utilisation, and builds scalable production processes.

The role pairs deep EMS technical domain expertise with advanced capacity planning and Lean enterprise deployment. Through structured tiered management, disciplined schedule adherence, and rigorous quality system compliance, the Manufacturing Operations Manager ensures sustained margin growth, operational reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Leadership & Team Management

Direct, develop, and retain high-performing operational and technical teams through proactive succession planning, coaching, and talent management.

Mentor manufacturing engineers, technical staff, and frontline production supervisors to foster a culture of proactive, self-directed ownership.

Define and manage operational benchmarks aligned with SQDCP metrics, conducting structured, data-driven performance evaluations.

Develop frontline leadership capabilities through daily Gemba walks, active floor coaching, and structured development initiatives.

Drive accountability and rapid problem resolution by implementing and facilitating tiered daily management systems (Tier 1–Tier 3).

Oversee leaders and supervisors across SMT production, through-hole assembly, testing, mechanical box build, and inventory/materials management.

Operational & Technical Excellence:

Lead production planning and master scheduling using ERP/MRP and manufacturing scheduling platforms (e.g., JobPack) to maintain schedule adherence and optimise line capacity balance.

Drive high SMT line utilisation and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) through capacity modelling, Single-Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) setup reduction, and live floor telemetry.

Boost direct labour productivity via standard work implementation, line balancing, and takt-time alignment.

Lead the deployment and sustainment of Lean enterprise tools: Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S, visual management boards, and cross-functional Kaizen events.

Apply hands‑on electro‑mechanical troubleshooting to diagnose and resolve complex automation and line machinery failures.

Direct structured root cause corrective action investigations (8D, A3, DMAIC) for scrap issues, line downtime, and customer escapes.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Design Optimization:

Partner closely with internal engineering teams to ensure robust Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) and Design-for-Assembly (DFA) alignment during the NPI ramp cycle.

Engage directly with customer engineering teams to resolve manufacturability challenges and improve PCBA layouts for volume manufacturing.

Oversee DFM/DFT analysis to support accurate quoting, reliable tooling design, and production margin protection.

Provide technical evaluation of incoming customer design packages to optimise manufacturing flow and cost baselines.

Strategic Planning, Capital Projects & Regulatory Compliance:

Track advanced EMS manufacturing trends and collaborate on building an equipment and technology roadmap to preserve competitive advantage.

Lead capital expenditure (CapEx) initiatives for new SMT platforms, automated optical/X‑ray systems, and robotic cells, including capacity justification, factory floor layout, and ROI analysis.

Maintain operational adherence to certified quality management and regulatory frameworks: ISO 9001, ISO 13485 (Medical), AS9100D (Aerospace/Defense), and ITAR compliance.

Develop and manage operational operating budgets, overhead cost controls, and margin enhancement strategies.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline required.

Industry Experience:

Minimum 8 to 10 years of progressive operational and engineering leadership experience, specifically within the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) / PCBA industry.

Extensive track record leading complex manufacturing operations within highly regulated sectors (e.g., Aerospace, Defense, Medical Devices).

Technical & Manufacturing Acumen:

Advanced understanding of full-lifecycle EMS operations: surface‑mount technology (SMT), pin‑through‑hole (PTH), conformal coating, box build/HLA, and functional test systems.

Advanced command of production planning methodologies, capacity modelling, and ERP/MRP systems.

Hands‑on proficiency with CAD software and the Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel).

Continuous Improvement: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt certification strongly preferred, with demonstrated mastery of tiered shop‑floor management, continuous improvement, and waste reduction.

Core Competencies: Executive‑level communication, decisive change management leadership, cross‑functional collaboration, and the ability to operate under time‑sensitive customer deadlines.