Pilot Operations Manager

Vulcan Elements; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements in Durham, North Carolina, is looking for a Pilot Operations Manager to oversee pilot-scale manufacturing for advanced rare-earth materials. This role involves production leadership, process engineering, and material coordination, ensuring safe and efficient delivery of materials.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and over 5 years of experience in manufacturing environments. Responsibilities include leading pilot production operations and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize processes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in advanced materials or manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience leading pilot or production teams with accountability for execution.
• Hands-on experience in pilot-scale or development environments.

Responsibilities

• Own daily pilot manufacturing operations ensuring safe and on-time execution.
• Translate R&D processes into robust pilot workflows, leading process optimization.
• Oversee material flow, coordinate production schedules, and establish SOPs.

Skills

Leadership in pilot production

Process engineering

Material coordination

Operational excellence

KPI management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science or related field

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

The Pilot Operations Manager is responsible for end-to-end execution of pilot-scale manufacturing for advanced rare earth materials, serving as the critical link between development and full-scale production. This role combines production leadership, process engineering, and material coordination to deliver qualified materials safely, on specification, and on schedule.

The leader will establish disciplined, scalable operations while partnering closely with development, commercial, quality, and EHS teams to enable rapid iteration, material qualification, and successful transition to production.

Responsibilities

• Pilot Production Leadership: Own daily pilot manufacturing operations from planning through delivery, ensuring reliable, safe, and on-time execution of material and testing plans aligned with program and commercial priorities.
• Process Engineering & Scale-Up: Translate R&D processes into robust, repeatable pilot workflows; lead process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement to improve yield, stability, and scalability.
• Material Coordination & Logistics: Oversee end-to-end material flow including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods; coordinate staging, inventory, and movement of sensitive materials to align production output with testing and delivery requirements.
• Operational Excellence & Scheduling: Establish and enforce SOPs, work instructions, and standardized workflows; coordinate production schedules, resource allocation, and equipment readiness; implement and manage KPIs (yield, throughput, quality, schedule adherence) to drive performance and accountability.
• Documentation, Testing & Traceability: Ensure complete and accurate batch records, material qualification traveler sheets, and process documentation; synthesize and communicate clear material testing summaries to support data-driven decisions and stakeholder alignment.
• Quality & Process Control: Maintain high-precision specifications through rigorous process control, in-process verification, and structured root cause and corrective action for deviations.
• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop a team of technicians; establish clear expectations for execution, safety, and documentation; build a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with development, commercial, quality, and EHS teams to align on priorities, communicate progress and risks, and ensure readiness for customer requirements and scale-up milestones.
• Safe & Compliant Operations: Integrate EHS requirements into all aspects of operations, including SOPs, training, material handling, and facility practices, ensuring safe and compliant execution at all times.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in advanced materials, pilot production, or manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience leading pilot or production teams, with direct accountability for execution, safety, and performance.
• Hands‑on experience working in pilot-scale or development environments, supporting process iteration, scale‑up, and material qualification.
• Demonstrated experience in process engineering, pilot line operations, or scaling technologies from R&D to production.
• Strong track record of implementing SOP-driven operations, KPI management, and production documentation systems.
• Experience managing material flow, production scheduling, and cross‑functional coordination.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities.