R&D Manufacturing Director

Fibertek Inc; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

9/8/80 alternate workweek

Job summary

Fibertek, Inc. in Herndon, VA, seeks a hands-on R&D Manufacturing Director to lead prototype and low-rate production for laser and electro‑optical systems. You will oversee AI&T, manufacturing engineering, and MES rollout, while keeping day-to-day execution tight and scalable.

The role emphasizes collaboration with engineering, quality, supply chain, and planning, guiding build strategies, process standardization, and continuous improvement across the R&D organization.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of experience in manufacturing engineering or production leadership.
• Experience with optical, laser, electro‑optical hardware for aerospace/space.
• Experience transitioning designs from prototype to initial production.
• Direct experience with AI&T and controlled build environments.
• Strong understanding of configuration control, build documentation, and traceability.
• Experience with an ERP system such as Deltek Costpoint.
• Experience in an ISO‑9001 (or AS9100) certified manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (engineering preferred).
• Proven hands‑on leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical & execution oversight of production shops, including optical and electronics assembly, parts cleaning, and machine shop operations.
• Develop work instructions in collaboration with design engineers that result in efficient assembly and testing with predictable hardware delivery outcomes.
• Ensure build packages, travelers, drawings, and procedures are complete, controlled, and build‑ready.
• Ensure build schedules and resources are realistic and executable.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for manufacturing execution issues.
• Responsible for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) feedback and definition of build strategy and flow.
• Standardize and continuously improve manufacturing processes for repeatability, traceability, and throughput.
• Select, implement, and operationalize a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) aligned with optical and laser manufacturing needs.
• Resolve nonconformances and production issues using structured root cause analysis.
• Serve as the process owner from released design through assembly & integration.
• Act as the integration point between engineering, configuration management, quality, safety & mission assurance, supply chain, planning, and builders.
• Lead and develop the manufacturing engineering team while remaining hands‑on.
• Partner with leadership to plan facility improvements aligned with future program needs.

Skills

Hands-on leadership

Manufacturing engineering

Aerospace hardware

Process improvement

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Job description

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Job Title

R&D Manufacturing Director

Location

Herndon, VA - Herndon, VA 20171 US (Primary)

Job Description

Fibertek is seeking a hands‑on R&D Manufacturing Director to lead manufacturing of first‑of‑kind prototypes, demonstration units, and initial low‑rate production units for laser and electro‑optical systems used in aerospace and space programs. This includes deliverable engineering development units (EDUs) and flight units as well as low‑rate initial production. In addition to manufacturing execution, this role oversees production planning, Assembly Integration and Test (AI&T) processes, and manufacturing engineering across the R&D organization.

This is not a purely managerial role. The Director will be actively involved in day‑to‑day manufacturing execution while improving Fibertek’s manufacturing capability, including updating core processes, leading implementation efforts for a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and helping to scale production capacity. The role serves as the operational link between engineering, configuration management, quality, supply chain, planning, and the build teams.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Shop & Operations Ownership

• Provide technical & execution oversight of production shops, including optical and electronics assembly, parts cleaning, and machine shop operations
• Identify constraints and drive improvements across the production floor

Production Planning & Execution

• Develop work instructions in collaboration with design engineers that result in efficient assembly and testing with predictable hardware delivery outcomes
• Ensure build packages, travelers, drawings, and procedures are complete, controlled, and build‑ready
• Ensure build schedules and resources are realistic and executable
• Serve as the primary escalation point for manufacturing execution issues

Manufacturing Engineering & Process Improvement

• Responsible for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) feedback and definition of build strategy and flow.
• Standardize and continuously improve manufacturing processes for repeatability, traceability, and throughput
• Select, implement, and operationalize a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) aligned with optical and laser manufacturing needs
• Resolve nonconformances and production issues using structured root cause analysis

AI&T Process Ownership

• Serve as the process owner from released design through assembly & integration
• Act as the integration point between engineering, configuration management, quality, safety & mission assurance, supply chain, planning, and builders
• Lead and develop the manufacturing engineering team while remaining hands‑on
• Partner with leadership to plan facility improvements aligned with future program needs

Job Requirements

Experience and Expertise Required:

• 10–15 years of experience in manufacturing engineering or production leadership
• Experience with optical, laser, electro‑optical, aerospace, or space‑qualified hardware
• Experience with transitioning new engineering designs through prototype, manufacturing development, and initial production phases
• Direct experience with AI&T and controlled build environments
• Strong understanding of configuration control, build documentation, and traceability
• Experience with an ERP system such as Deltek Costpoint
• Experience in an ISO‑9001 (or AS9100) certified manufacturing environment
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (engineering preferred)
• Proven hands‑on leadership style

Success in This Role Looks Like:

• AI&T activities are disciplined, repeatable, and audit‑ready
• Manufacturing issues are identified as early as possible, and resolved quickly
• Hardware transitions smoothly from engineering into production
• Manufacturing lessons learned are documented and applied organization‑wide resulting in continuous improvement and long‑term gains in production efficiency

Salary Range: The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000-$225,000. This range reflects the compensation Fibertek reasonably expects to offer for this role. Placement within the range will depend on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s experience, education and training, key skills, and relevant market and business considerations.

Benefits offered: The company provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; disability, life insurance, and AD&D; a 401(k) plan with a company match and immediate vesting; Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts; an Employee Assistance Program; education assistance; paid time off and holidays; flexible work schedules; and a 9/8/80 alternate workweek option.FIBERTEK, Inc. is a recognized leader in advanced lasers, lidars and laser communication systems providing our DoD, NASA and aerospace customers discriminating capabilities. We pride ourselves in our innovation and customer success focused culture enabled by a creative and relaxed work environment. Fibertek fosters a progressive learning environment that values inspiration, promotes professional challenge and encourages personal growth. We offer a competitive and incentivized compensation package with excellent benefits.Fibertek, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual merit, skills, and experience. Fibertek does not engage in nor permits any discrimination in the workplace.