Senior Technical Operations Manager

AEye, Inc.; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

AEye, Inc. is seeking a hands-on Sr. Technical Operations Manager to lead their manufacturing operations, working closely with contract manufacturers and supply chain teams. The role focuses on ensuring operational excellence and readiness for product launches in LiDAR products.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, 8+ years experience in the field, and knowledge of electro-optical systems. The position is based on-site in Pleasanton, CA, offering a competitive base salary range of $185K-225K annually.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, production operations, or technical operations.
• Hands-on experience managing multiple contract manufacturers across regions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract manufacturers to deliver high-quality products on schedule.
• Own manufacturing technical deliverables including quality readiness.
• Troubleshoot production issues and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Manufacturing operations management

Data analysis and statistical methods

Project management

Electro-optical systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

MBA or equivalent relevant experience

Job description

We are seeking a hands‑on, execution‑focused Sr. Technical Operations Manager to lead our contract manufacturer and sub‑supplier operations, New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing engineering, and manufacturing test engineering for LiDAR products. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across a multi‑site supplier network while ensuring readiness for builds, launches, and volume production.

The ideal candidate will partner closely with engineering and supply chain teams to support engineering builds, product launches, and scalable manufacturing, while improving quality, yield, and supplier performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead contract manufacturers and sub‑suppliers to deliver high‑quality products on schedule and at scale.
• Partner with the Global Supply Management team on supplier selection, onboarding, and ramp‑up activities.
• Own manufacturing technical deliverables, including manufacturing test, manufacturing engineering, and quality readiness.
• Troubleshoot production issues, lead root cause analysis, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with EMS partners and cross‑functional teams including systems, hardware, software, reliability, and supply chain to support product launches and ongoing production.
• Drive yield improvement, test robustness, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Define, implement, and manage the operational NPI process.
• Develop and maintain the quality management system for manufacturing operations.
• Ensure manufacturing partners maintain required certifications and compliance standards.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrialization, or a related field; MBA, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, production operations, or technical operations.
• Hands‑on experience managing multiple contract manufacturers across Asia, North America, and/or Europe.
• Working knowledge of electro‑optical systems.
• Experience using data analysis and statistical methods to improve yield, reliability, and process performance.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to support builds and troubleshooting at partner sites as needed.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 lbs.
• Position is on site in Pleasanton, CA

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with electronics, LiDAR systems, or optical sensing technologies.
• Exposure to automotive manufacturing or other high‑reliability products.
• Working knowledge of electrical manufacturing processes (including FCT test and SMT) and mechanical manufacturing processes (including tooling and machining).
• Understanding of IOS standards and certification.

Base Annual Salary Range: $185K-225K