OPERATIONS PROJECT ENGINEERING LEAD

Daniel Defense, LLC; Black Creek (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Daniel Defense is seeking an Operations Project Engineering Lead to guide the end-to-end industrialization process for new product introductions and launches. You will align with NPD, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, and Supply Chain to ensure readiness and on-time delivery.

The role requires 7–10 years in manufacturing and strong ERP data governance, leadership, and project management skills. You will lead a team of Operations Project Engineers and uphold safety and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in manufacturing, industrialization, new product introduction, project engineering, or operations project management, including leadership of major programs.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the Operations Project Engineering function and the end-to-end industrialization process from design release through FAI, LRIP, production readiness, and product launch.
• Coordinate with NPD and other stakeholders as the senior liaison for industrialization priorities, commitments, decisions, resource conflicts, risks, and launch readiness.
• Direct the industrialization portfolio to support new product and solicitation goals; set priorities, assign ownership, balance capacity, and translate changes into schedules and actions.
• Establish and govern industrialization requirements, readiness criteria, decision rights, standard work, policies, templates, and document controls.
• Oversee readiness and governance of ERP item, bill of materials, routing, resource, runtime, labor standard, lead-time, costing, planning, and change data.
• Align Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, NPD, and other stakeholders while preserving each function’s accountability for technical deliverables.
• Lead operations readiness reviews and represent Industrialization in NPD-led gate reviews; consolidate evidence, risks, and recommendations, and coordinate recovery plans.
• Represent the portfolio in SIOP, product roadmap, capacity, scheduling, and leadership reviews; communicate status, tradeoffs, constraints, resource needs, and decisions.
• Monitor launch timing, industrialization deliverables, action closure, FAI/LRIP performance, data readiness, and schedule adherence; drive systemic improvements.
• Lead and develop Operations Project Engineers; set expectations, review work quality, manage workload and coverage, and build capability for faster launches.
• Commitment to environmental health and safety principles and continuous improvement in Safety, 6S, Quality, Delivery and Productivity.

Skills

Industrialization leadership

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

ERP data governance

Negotiation & influence

Risk management

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

Operations Project Engineering Lead

Department: Operations Division: Industrialization

At Daniel Defense, Only the Best Build the Best…

Daniel Defense engineers and manufactures the world’s finest weapon systems and accessories. Our mission of Honor God. Defend Freedom is accomplished by serving customers and providing top quality solutions to our military, law enforcement and civilians that are seeking premium firearms for home defense, hunting, and sport shooting.

As the Operations Project Engineering Lead, you will be responsible for the functions outlined below.

Essential Functions

• Own and lead the Operations Project Engineering function and the end-to-end industrialization process from design release through FAI, LRIP, production readiness, and product launch.
• Work hand in hand with NPD Project Management as the senior Operations liaison to NPD and the primary escalation point for industrialization priorities, commitments, decisions, resource conflicts, risks, and launch readiness.
• Direct the industrialization portfolio in support of the organization’s new product and solicitation goals; set priorities and sequencing, assign project ownership, balance team capacity, and translate changes into clear schedules and actions.
• Establish and govern Operations industrialization requirements, readiness criteria, decision rights, standard work, policies, procedures, templates, checklists, document controls, and lessons learned.
• Oversee readiness and governance of ERP item, bill of material, routing, resource, runtime, labor standard, lead-time, costing, planning, and approved-change data.
• Align Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, NPD, and other stakeholders while preserving each function’s accountability for technical deliverables.
• Lead Operations readiness reviews and represent Industrialization in NPD-led gate reviews; consolidate Operations evidence, risks, and recommendations, and coordinate recovery plans or leadership escalation when necessary.
• Represent the portfolio in SIOP, product roadmap, capacity, scheduling, and leadership reviews; communicate status, tradeoffs, constraints, resource needs, and decisions.
• Monitor launch timing, industrialization deliverable completion, action closure, FAI and LRIP performance, data readiness, schedule adherence, and recurring barriers; drive systemic corrections.
• Lead and develop Operations Project Engineers; set expectations, review work quality, manage workload and coverage, and build capability for faster, dependable launches.
• Responsible for demonstrating commitment to and leadership of environmental health and safety principles, policies and procedures.
• Participates in the company’s efforts to continuously improve in Safety, 6S, Quality, Delivery and Productivity.
• Expected to be a contributor to the company standards on high integrity, safety, fair and equitable treatment and a positive work environment.
• Other responsibilities as deemed appropriate or necessary by management.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Project Management, Business, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, leadership experience, and progressive industrialization experience.
• Seven to ten (7–10) years of progressive experience in manufacturing, industrialization, new product introduction, project engineering, or operations project management, including leadership of major programs.
• Demonstrated ability to own an industrialization or new product launch function, govern a multi-project portfolio, allocate resources, and lead cross-functional execution through competing priorities.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing readiness, FAI, process validation, capability studies, LRIP, production ramp, capacity planning, and NPD stage-gate processes.
• Strong command of ERP manufacturing data governance, including item setup, bills of material, routings, resources, runtimes, labor standards, lead times, costing inputs, planning parameters, and change control.
• Proven leadership, coaching, facilitation, negotiation, conflict-resolution, executive communication, and organizational influence skills.
• Advanced portfolio and project management, prioritization, risk management, problem-solving, metric development, and decision-support capability; project management certification is preferred.
• Ability to establish disciplined systems and standards while maintaining the urgency, floor presence, and follow-through required to move products to market.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and work in accordance with our Company Values.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and carry awkward items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Requires intermittent standing, walking, sitting and bending throughout the normal work day.
• Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment, to include working in and around machinery, exposure to noise and chemicals, lights/lasers, etc.
• Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment as required by your position and/or Company policy.

Daniel Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status, and promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Note: The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to the job. This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel in this job. Responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of the employer and do not establish a contract of employment – Daniel Defense is an at-will employer.