Production Lead

Aptiv; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Career development resources

Job summary

Aptiv Interconnect in Garden Grove, CA seeks a Production Lead to guide a team of assemblers on the manufacturing floor. You will coordinate daily workflow, assign tasks by skill, and serve as the frontline technical expert for drawings, procedures, and techniques.

This role blends leadership, mentorship, and hands-on manufacturing expertise. You will train and mentor staff, support Lean initiatives, and ensure adherence to AS9100 quality standards and ITAR requirements while driving Get Stuff

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in complex cable harness assembly in aerospace/defense/high-reliability environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of assemblers, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and accountability.
• Assign and coordinate the daily workflow for your team, prioritizing tasks based on the production schedule and employee skill sets.
• Serve as the frontline technical expert and problem-solver for assemblers, answering questions on drawings, procedures, and techniques.
• Ensure and enforce real-time compliance with all company policies, safety procedures, AS9100 quality standards, and ITAR regulations.
• Champion and enforce Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention and 5S (cleanliness) standards in your work area.
• May perform complex, start-to-finish assembly on NPI or critical "hot" jobs as needed.
• Partner with the Production Supervisor to create and execute the daily production plan, ensuring on-time delivery goals are met.
• Act as the primary liaison between your team and other departments, communicating and resolving issues with Quality, Engineering, and Materials.
• Lead daily team huddles (stand-up meetings) to review goals, safety, and quality, and to identify and elevate any roadblocks to the Supervisor.
• Mentor, train, and certify assemblers on new processes and workmanship standards, and support the cross-training of all team members.
• Drive continuous improvement (Lean) by identifying and helping implement process enhancements to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Training

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

AS degree is a plus

J-STD-001

IPC/WHMA-A-620 certifications

Tools

Google Workspace

ADP

Syspro

QMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

We always do the right thing, the right way.

Job Title: Production Lead

Location: 12691 Monarch Street, Garden Grove, CA 92841 USA

Department: Production

Reports To: Production Supervisor

Job Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $30.00 - $35.00 per hour + $2.00 per hour shift differential for working on the 2nd shift

Summary:

At Aptiv Interconnect, we inspire the world’s most innovative teams by doing the right thing, the right way. We are seeking a Production Lead to be a "hands-on" leader on the manufacturing floor, responsible for guiding a team of assemblers to meet critical production schedules. Your primary role is to coordinate the daily workflow, assign tasks based on skill, and serve as the frontline technical expert for your team. This role is a blend of leadership, mentorship, and technical expertise. You will be responsible for on-the-job training, ensuring your team adheres to our 'zero-defect' AS9100 quality standards, and driving our "GSD" (Get Stuff Done) culture. You will be the key liaison between the assemblers, the Production Supervisor, Quality Control, and Engineering.

Leadership & Core Responsibilities

Accountability

• Lead a team of assemblers, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and accountability.
• Assign and coordinate the daily workflow for your team, prioritizing tasks based on the production schedule and employee skill sets.
• Serve as the frontline technical expert and problem-solver for assemblers, answering questions on drawings, procedures, and techniques.
• Ensure and enforce real-time compliance with all company policies, safety procedures, AS9100 quality standards, and ITAR regulations.
• Champion and enforce Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention and 5S (cleanliness) standards in your work area.
• May perform complex, start-to-finish assembly on NPI or critical "hot" jobs as needed.

Collaboration

• Partner with the Production Supervisor to create and execute the daily production plan, ensuring on-time delivery goals are met.
• Act as the primary liaison between your team and other departments, communicating and resolving issues with Quality, Engineering, and Materials.
• Lead daily team huddles (stand-up meetings) to review goals, safety, and quality, and to identify and elevate any roadblocks to the Supervisor.

Empowerment

• Mentor, train, and certify assemblers on new processes and workmanship standards, and support the cross-training of all team members.
• Drive continuous improvement (Lean) by identifying and helping implement process enhancements to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Education & Technical Qualifications Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (AS degree is a plus). Experience: 5-7+ years of progressive experience in complex cable harness assembly within an aerospace, defense, or high-reliability (e.g., medical) environment; 1-2+ years of proven experience in a leadership role (e.g., Senior Assembler, trainer, or cell lead) with demonstrated mentorship skills.

Industry Domain:

Expert-level ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, schematics, and work instructions.

Expert-level skills in all core assembly processes:

soldering, crimping, wire termination, harness building, and (preferably) potting/molding.

Regulatory Compliance:

Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident) due to ITAR regulations.

Certifications & Competencies

Certifications:

J-STD-001 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 certifications are required.

Systems Proficiency:

Google Workspace, ADP, Syspro, QMS, and Microsoft Office.

Core Competencies:

Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to train and motivate team members. Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Compensation, Benefits & Legal

Total Rewards & Compensation Base Salary Range: $30.00 – $35.00 per hour.

Incentive Compensation: Eligible for a $2.00 per hour shift differential for working on the 2nd shift; referral bonus and sign-on bonus.

Benefits & Perks: Employees receive a comprehensive benefits package featuring health coverage, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and career development resources.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. In addition to federal law requirements, Winchester Interconnect complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Winchester Interconnect expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.