Production Manager

BWXT; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 131,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible schedules

Professional development

Job summary

BWXT is looking for a Production Manager in Oak Ridge, TN, to lead high‑volume CNC machining, cleaning, and assembly operations in a greenfield startup, reporting to the CEO/COO. You will establish the workforce, start the facility from ground up, and own daily production, quality, cost, safety, and reliability performance.

Ideal candidates are seasoned manufacturing leaders with startup experience in fast-paced, highly technical environments and a passion for driving operational excellence and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead facility commissioning including equipment installation, tooling readiness, process qualification, and production verification across CNC machining, cleaning, and assembly operations.
• Build and operate the 2-shift production schedule and coordinate 3-shift maintenance operations to maximize equipment availability.
• Own daily, weekly, and monthly manufacturing output performance against the 50,000 units/year plan.
• Govern preventive maintenance programs and maintenance inventory strategies.

Skills

Leadership

CNC machining

Maintenance Mgmt

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Budgeting

Safety Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

ERP/MES systems (SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Plex)

Job description

At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com . Follow us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram .

Welcome to BWXT

We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth, collaboration, and technical excellence. At our Oak Ridge, Tennessee Enrichment Operations site, you will join teams working at the forefront of advanced nuclear manufacturing, precision engineering, and mission-critical national security programs. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you’ll find opportunities to challenge yourself, partner with seasoned experts, and contribute to innovation shaping the future of nuclear technology. Our work requires a wide range of skills, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and career stages who share a passion for meaningful impact and technical advancement.

Position Overview

As our Production Manager, you will lead high-volume CNC machining, parts cleaning, and assembly operations within a greenfield startup facility designed to produce 50,000 precision machines per year. Reporting directly to the CEO/COO, you will play a critical leadership role in building the production system from the ground up — establishing the workforce, defining operating rhythms, commissioning the equipment, and driving the facility from initial startup to full-rate production. You will hold full operational ownership for daily manufacturing output, quality, cost, safety, and reliability performance while serving as the primary production voice to executive leadership. This role is ideal for a driven manufacturing leader who thrives in fast-paced, highly technical, and ambiguous startup environments.

Location

On-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Your Day to Day as a Production Manager

• Lead facility commissioning including equipment installation, tooling readiness, process qualification, and production verification across CNC machining, cleaning, and assembly operations.
• Develop a complete manufacturing ramp plan with milestones, resources, risk mitigation, and execution strategies aligned to launch timelines.
• Establish standard operating procedures, work instructions, control plans, and quality systems prior to first production.
• Build and operate the 2-shift production schedule and coordinate 3-shift maintenance operations to maximize equipment availability.
• Stand up ERP/MES systems and shop-floor data infrastructure to support real-time production visibility.
• Own daily, weekly, and monthly manufacturing output performance against the 50,000 units/year plan.
• Oversee CNC machining, parts cleaning, and assembly departments to ensure balanced capacity and smooth material flow.
• Establish and review KPIs including OEE, throughput, scrap/rework, cycle time, and first-pass yield.
• Drive capacity planning, production scheduling, and material coordination with Supply Chain to meet build requirements.
• Champion 5S, visual management, standardized work, and a highly disciplined operational culture.
• Direct maintenance operations, ensuring PM compliance, uptime performance, MTTR, and MTBF targets are achieved.
• Govern preventive maintenance programs and maintenance inventory strategies.
• Lead rapid response actions to downtime events with formal root cause and corrective action follow-up.
• Maintain in-process inspection protocols, SPC, MSA/Gage R&R, corrective action workflows, and quality checkpoints throughout machining, cleaning, and assembly processes.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma improvement efforts, conducting Kaizen events and eliminating operational waste.
• Ensure readiness for required certifications (ISO 9001, IATF 16949 or equivalent).
• Build the manufacturing workforce including supervisors, technicians, operators, and maintenance staff across all shifts.
• Implement onboarding, training, cross-training, and performance management cadences.
• Foster a safety-first, high-accountability culture with strong leadership presence on the production floor.
• Identify and develop high-potential employees and create succession plans for key roles.
• Serve as the ultimate safety authority; ensure compliance with OSHA, BWXT safety standards, LOTO, machine guarding, PPE, and chemical handling protocols.
• Lead accident investigations, environmental compliance efforts, and systemic corrective actions.
• Own the manufacturing budget including labor, consumables, tooling, MRO, and overhead.
• Build annual operating budgets, rolling forecasts, and capital requests in partnership with Finance.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities through process optimization, scrap reduction, and labor efficiency improvements.
• Provide manufacturing cost inputs for product costing and business cases.
• Represent production on the executive leadership team, communicating performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Partner with Engineering on DFM reviews, change management, and NPI readiness.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain on material flow, vendor qualification, and supplier quality.
• Provide production capacity and lead‑time support to Sales and Customer Service.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success launching a new manufacturing facility or production line from startup through full-rate production.
• Hands‑on expertise with CNC machining environments — turning, milling, multi‑axis machining, tooling, fixturing, and machine capability.
• Experience leading parts cleaning operations (aqueous, solvent, ultrasonic) and associated waste‑handling requirements.
• Background managing high‑volume mechanical or electromechanical assembly operations (≥25,000 units/year).
• Experience managing preventive/predictive maintenance organizations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing startup or rapid‑scaling environment.
• Background in aerospace, defense, automotive, medical devices, or advanced industrial machinery.
• Experience implementing ERP/MES systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Plex, or equivalent.
• Experience with capital equipment procurement, process validation, and facility layout planning.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt certification.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible schedules and paid time off (as applicable for leadership roles).
• Professional development, mentorship, and continuing education support.
• A collaborative, inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives.
• Opportunities to directly support high‑impact national security and nuclear manufacturing missions.
• Continuous learning and long‑term career advancement opportunities across BWXT.

Pay: $131,480 - $207,000

The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $131,480 and $207,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at‑will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.

As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities ("BWXT" or the "Company") complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre‑employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.

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CNC, Six Sigma Black Belt, Supply Chain Manager, Six Sigma, Industrial, Manufacturing, Management, Operations