Operations Team Lead- Night Shift

Brightmachines; Florence (KY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Bright Machines is seeking a Manufacturing Lead to serve as the key connector between frontline operators and the Operations Supervisor. This hands-on, working-lead role directs day-to-day production on the floor, ensuring safety, quality, and output targets while maintaining standard work.

You will lead start-up meetings, coach operators, support onboarding, and drive continuous improvement through Lean methods.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment, with at least 1 year in a lead, trainer, or informal leadership role.
• Hands-on experience working on assembly lines, preferably in electronics, server, or high-mix manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of standard work, production flow, and quality inspection processes.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, automated production environment.
• Comfort operating around automated, robotic, or semi-automated production systems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively with peers, supervisors, and support teams.
• Familiarity with MES or ERP systems and production tracking tools is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of Lean principles (5S, standard work, waste reduction) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate production operators on assigned assembly lines to meet daily output targets.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for production issues, downtime, and material shortages during the shift.
• Lead shift start-up meetings, communicate priorities, and ensure a smooth handoff between shifts.
• Monitor line balance and adjust operator assignments in real time to maintain production flow.
• Actively participate in production activities alongside the team - this is a hands-on, working-lead role.
• Guide operators in following standard work, work instructions, and safe operating procedures.
• Support onboarding and cross-training of new team members under the direction of the Operations Supervisor.
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to operators; escalation performance concerns to the Supervisor.
• Model a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement on the production floor.
• Enforce all safety policies and procedures, including lockout/tagout, ergonomics, and PPE requirements.
• Immediately address and report unsafe conditions or behaviors; support corrective action as directed.
• Ensure operators perform quality checks and inspections in accordance with work instructions.
• Escalate recurring defects or non-conformances to the Operations Supervisor and Quality team.
• Support 5S and workplace organization standards to maintain a clean, safe, and efficient production environment.
• Track and report hourly/shift-level performance metrics including throughput, scrap, and attendance.
• Communicate production status and emerging issues to the Operations Supervisor promptly.
• Support root cause analysis for downtime and quality issues by gathering data and documenting findings.
• Participate in Lean and continuous improvement initiatives as directed by the Operations Supervisor.
• Assist with line changeovers, process adjustments, and new product introduction activities.
• Coordinate with maintenance and engineering teams to relay equipment issues and support resolution.

Skills

Leadership & team guidance

Hands-on assembly line

Communication

Lean principles (5S, standard work)

Tools

MES/ERP systems

Job description

RETHINK MANUFACTURING

Theonly way toignite changeis to build the best team. At Bright Machines®,we’reinnovators and experts in our craft who have joined together to manufacturetheAI and data center infrastructureat the edge. We believeunifyingsoftware, intelligent automation, anddataisthe answerto delivering qualityand flexibilityatscale. We deliver products to meet the demands of today whilecontinuously investing in our Bright Factory modelto take advantage of what comes next.

Working with us meansyou’llhave the opportunity to make lasting, impactful changes for our company and our customers. Ifyou’reready to apply your exceptional skills toa brighter way of manufacturing AI infrastructure,we’dlove to speak with you.

The Manufacturing Lead at Bright Machines serves as the key point of contact between frontline operators and the Operations Supervisor. This working-lead role is responsible for directing day-to-day production activity on the floor, ensuring team members follow standard work, and maintaining line performance against safety, quality, and output goals. The Manufacturing Lead is a hands-on role requiring deep production knowledge, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to proactively identify and resolveissues before they elevate.

Floor Leadership & Daily Execution

• Direct and coordinate production operators on assigned assembly lines to meet daily output targets.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for production issues, downtime, and material shortages during the shift.
• Lead shift start-up meetings, communicate priorities, and ensure a smooth handoff between shifts.
• Monitor line balance and adjust operator assignments in real time to maintain production flow.
• Actively participate in production activities alongside the team - this is a hands-on, working-lead role.

Team Support & Development

• Guide operators in following standard work, work instructions, and safe operating procedures.
• Support onboarding and cross-training of new team members under the direction of the Operations Supervisor.
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to operators; escalation performance concerns to the Supervisor.
• Model a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement on the production floor.

Safety & Quality Compliance

• Enforce all safety policies and procedures, including lockout/tagout, ergonomics, and PPE requirements.
• Immediately address and report unsafe conditions or behaviors; support corrective action as directed.
• Ensure operators perform quality checks and inspections in accordance with work instructions.
• Escalate recurring defects or non-conformances to the Operations Supervisor and Quality team.
• Support 5S and workplace organization standards to maintain a clean, safe, and efficient production environment.

Operational Support & Improvement

• Track and report hourly/shift-level performance metrics including throughput, scrap, and attendance.
• Communicate production status and emerging issues to the Operations Supervisor promptly.
• Support root cause analysis for downtime and quality issues by gathering data and documenting findings.
• Participate in Lean and continuous improvement initiatives as directed by the Operations Supervisor.
• Assist with line changeovers, process adjustments, and new product introduction activities.
• Coordinate with maintenance and engineering teams to relay equipment issues and support resolution.

• 2+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment, with at least 1 year in a lead, trainer, or informal leadership role.
• Hands-on experience working on assembly lines, preferably in electronics, server, or high-mix manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of standard work, production flow, and quality inspection processes.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, automated production environment.
• Comfort operating around automated, robotic, or semi-automated production systems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively with peers, supervisors, and support teams.
• Familiarity with MES or ERP systems and production tracking tools is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of Lean principles (5S, standard work, waste reduction) preferred.

BE EMPOWERED TO CHANGE AN INDUSTRY

Bright Machines is a next-generation, AI-enabled manufacturer focused on data center infrastructure production. Bright Machines uses its proprietary AI-based robotics and software to assemble AI infrastructure hardware products (i.e., data center servers) for hyperscalers, neoclouds, and leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce their time to revenue. With its Bright Factory model, Bright Machines builds higher quality data center infrastructure at scale, addresses increasing market demands for computing power due to the surge of AI, and answers the call to the U.S. national mandate to reshore manufacturing.

Bright Machines is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an integration center in Guadalajara, Mexico. The company has been recognized as one of Forbes' AI 50, awarded "Best AI-based Solution for Manufacturing" by AI Breakthrough, named a "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum, and highlighted by several other leading technology and innovation organizations.