Manufacturing Operations Specialist

Nexthop AI; California; On-site; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Nexthop AI designs and engineers advanced networking products in Santa Clara, CA. The Manufacturing Specialist will oversee daily production, ensure quality and safety, and drive process improvements in collaboration with engineering, supply chain, and operations teams.

Ideal candidates have 10–12 years in manufacturing engineering/operations, with direct experience in electronics or high-tech environments and global CM oversight.

Qualifications

• 10–12 years of proven manufacturing engineering and operations experience.
• Experience in electronics, networking hardware, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing global contract manufacturers (CMs).
• Lean manufacturing and quality systems experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily production activities and monitor assembly and test processes.
• Enforce quality and safety standards, perform root-cause analysis, and optimize workflows for efficiency.
• Document standard operating procedures and training for production staff on new equipment and safety practices.
• Directly manage contract manufacturers across international sites.
• Support the ramp-up and scaling of new high-tech hardware products.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering

Lean Manufacturing

Root Cause Analysis

Quality Systems

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Relevant technical degree

Job description

Nexthop AI designs and engineers advanced networking products and solutions for Hyperscalers and NeoClouds. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA—with additional global locations in Seattle, Vancouver, Dublin, and Bengaluru—the company combines collaborative product design with system and network engineering expertise to solve cutting-edge networking challenges.

We are hiring for a Manufacturing Specialist who manages day-to-day manufacturing operations to ensure smooth production, strict quality adherence, and continuous process optimization. In this role, you will collaborate closely with engineering, supply chain, and operations teams to implement manufacturing instructions, resolve production issues, and support new product ramp-ups in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations & Production: Coordinate daily production activities and monitor assembly and test processes.
• Process & Quality Control: Enforce quality and safety standards, assist with root-cause analysis for defects, and optimize workflows for maximum efficiency and reliability.
• Documentation & Training: Document standard operating procedures, maintain production records, and train/onboard manufacturing personnel on new equipment, tools, and safety practices.
• Global CM Management: Directly manage Contract Manufacturers (CMs) across international sites.
• New Product Ramp-Up: Support the introduction and scaling of new high-tech hardware products.

Qualifications : Experience & Education

• Education: Relevant technical degree required.
• Experience: 10–12 years of proven, hands-on experience in manufacturing engineering and operations.
• Industry Background: Direct experience in electronics, networking hardware, or high-tech manufacturing environments required (high-speed industrial networking hardware experience strongly preferred).
• CM Oversight: Required experience managing global Contract Manufacturers (CMs).

Technical Skills

• Strong background in Manufacturing Engineering, process optimization, and Lean methodologies/quality systems.
• Ability to interpret technical documentation, engineering drawings, and work instructions across multiple disciplines (Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, and Thermal).
• Hands-on approach to defect resolution, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

Soft Skills & Core Traits

• Hands-On Mindset: Self-motivated, company-first attitude with a passion for diving deep into complex technical problems.
• Communication & Leadership: Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate across global teams and train technical personnel effectively.
• Attention to Detail: High standard for reliability, safety, and precision in an on-site manufacturing setup.