Production Manager

Teledyne FLIR; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Teledyne RD Instruments, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, seeks a Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations for high-precision ADCP/DVL products. You’ll drive safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while shaping operating plans and capacity strategies.

Responsibilities include leading supervisors, improving processes, and coordinating with Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure manufacturing readiness and continuous improvement. On-site in Poway, CA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or related field with 5–10 years supervisory experience.
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume electromechanical manufacturing; familiarity with NPI.
• Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen experience; cost-reduction initiatives.
• Strong communication, collaboration and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing operations to ensure safety, quality, on-time delivery and cost efficiency.
• Drive Lean initiatives, capacity planning, and continuous improvement across production and test.
• Develop operating plans, optimize resources, and manage performance metrics.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain and Operations.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Excel

BI tools

Job description

Be visionary Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins. Job Description Job Description Teledyne RD Instruments (RDI) is the industry’s leading manufacturer of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) for current profiling and wave measurement applications and Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) for precision underwater navigation applications. Teledyne RDI's game-changing technology has allowed tens of thousands of scientists, engineers and researchers explore and understand our world's oceans, rivers and streams in a way that was previously thought impossible. Our technology continues to evolve and impact the world in a positive way. At the core of this journey are our remarkable employees. Their dedication, inspiration, talent and creativity are truly changing the world for the better. General Overview The Production Manager leads manufacturing operations to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products that meet customer expectations and business objectives. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across production and test operations while supporting growth, quality, delivery, and profitability goals. The Production Manager develops and executes manufacturing operating plans, optimizes capacity and resource planning, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and builds high-performing teams. This position provides leadership across supervisors and production personnel, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, innovation, and employee engagement. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to make decisions that impact production performance, workforce development, operational efficiency, and long-term manufacturing capabilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Accountable for manufacturing performance including safety, quality, on-time delivery, labor productivity, inventory accuracy, and manufacturing cost performance.
• Drive daily operational execution through tiered accountability processes, production reviews, resource allocation, issue escalation, and recovery planning to ensure customer commitments are achieved.
• Develop and execute manufacturing operating plans aligned with organizational goals and growth initiatives.
• Ensure production schedules are met through effective labor planning, equipment utilization, and material availability management.
• Monitor and improve key operational metrics, including throughput, on-time delivery, first-pass yield, inventory accuracy, labor efficiency, and schedule attainment.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are effectively executed, documented, and continuously improved to support current and future business requirements.
• Lead production test operations and ensure adequate test capacity, equipment readiness, and troubleshooting support to meet production schedules.
• Drive cross-functional resolution of manufacturing, test, material, and quality issues that threaten production schedules or customer commitments.

Safety, Quality & Compliance Champion

a culture of safety and ensure compliance with all company, regulatory, and environmental requirements. Maintain accountability for employee safety, safe work practices, and compliance with established operating procedures. Partner with Quality, Engineering, and EHS teams to ensure adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements. Lead investigations and corrective actions related to safety incidents, quality concerns, and operational disruptions. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing manufacturing operations.

Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives including 5S, Value Stream Mapping, visual management, waste reduction, and continuous improvement activities. Identify and implement process improvements that increase productivity, reduce cycle times, improve quality, and lower manufacturing costs. Lead efforts to reduce scrap, rework, overtime, and schedule delays while improving operational predictability. Utilize data analytics and operational metrics to identify trends, solve problems, and drive decision-making.

Capacity Planning & Resource Management

Analyze production demand, capacity constraints, workforce requirements, and equipment utilization to support business objectives. Develop workforce and capacity plans to support forecasted demand and business growth. Provide recommendations regarding capital investments, equipment upgrades, facility improvements, and staffing requirements. Partner with Supply Chain, Planning, and Engineering to mitigate risks and resolve material or production constraints.

Leadership & Talent Development

Build, develop, and lead a high-performing manufacturing organization. Coach and mentor supervisors and managers to strengthen leadership capability and accountability. Foster employee engagement, teamwork, inclusion, and professional growth. Establish clear performance expectations and utilize performance management tools to promote accountability and development. Support succession planning, workforce development, and cross-training initiatives to enhance organizational flexibility.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Operations leadership to achieve business objectives. Support New Product Introduction (NPI) efforts by ensuring manufacturing readiness and successful product transitions into production. Collaborate with procurement teams and suppliers to address material challenges and improve supply chain performance. Provide operational leadership support for strategic initiatives and special projects.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job provides general supervision to a functional area which may include supervision of supervisors and direct supervision of other exempt and non-exempt personnel. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include providing leadership to employees, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or a related technical discipline and 5-10 years supervisory experience in a fast paced, high tech, electromechanical manufacturing environment or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead through change and build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. Strong coaching, mentoring, and team-development skills. Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Technical & Operational: Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, workforce management, and capacity planning. Experience managing high‑mix, low‑volume electromechanical manufacturing environments with varying product configurations and customer requirements. Knowledge of electronics manufacturing, electromechanical assembly, test processes, and troubleshooting methodologies. Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and production scaling activities. Proficiency with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and operational excellence methodologies. Experience implementing cost‑reduction and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Business & Analytical: Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills. Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing performance dashboards. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with business intelligence and reporting tools. Understanding of manufacturing financial metrics, budgeting, and cost management.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills. Ability to effectively communicate and influence at all organizational levels. Strong cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management capabilities. Demonstrated ability to resolve complex operational and workforce challenges.

This position requires compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations. Applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR.

Salary Range: $96,600.00-$128,800.000 The anticipated salary range listed for this role is only an estimate. Actual compensation for successful candidates is carefully determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, location, education/training, work experience, key skills, and type of position.

Teledyne conducts background checks on qualified applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, education verification, employment history and verification, criminal convictions, Motor Vehicle Report (MVR & driving history), reference check, credit checks/credit history and drug testing. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Teledyne and all of our employees are committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards. We require all employees to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and regulatory orders. Our reputation for honesty, integrity and high ethics is as important to us as our reputation for making innovative sensing solutions.

Teledyne is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic or non-merit based factor made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

You may not realize it, but Teledyne enables many of the products and services you use every day. Teledyne provides enabling technologies to sense, transmit and analyze information for industrial growth markets, including aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, energy, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research.