Temporary Production Manager

JOHNLEONARD; Everett (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

JOHN LEONARD is seeking an experienced Production Manager to oversee rail car production, installation, maintenance, and field operations for a long-term project in Everett, MA. The role welcomes candidates with leadership experience in other complex industrial environments and requires strong skills in engineering interpretation and documented processes.

Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 3–7+ years of leadership in production or maintenance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering/operations.
• 3–7+ years in production/operations leadership in rail or heavy industries.
• Experience supervising field technicians and maintenance teams.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and control systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and wiring diagrams.
• Experience with production planning, installation workflows, and field service environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead production, installation, retrofit, and upgrade activities for rail car systems.
• Develop and manage production schedules, work instructions, and documentation.
• Oversee testing, commissioning, and system acceptance to meet schedules and quality.
• Ensure compliance with FRA, APTA, OEM, and internal standards.
• Collaborate with Engineering, QA, and technical teams to resolve issues.

Skills

Leadership

Production management

Rail operations

Field supervision

Project coordination

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/ Electrical/Industrial Engineering or Operations Management

Job description

Schedule:

Full-time | Monday-Friday, 7am-3pm

Assignment Duration:

~1 year starting ASAP

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization now or in the future.

About the Opportunity

A transportation technology company is seeking an experienced Production Manager to oversee rail car production, installation, maintenance, and field operations for a long-term project in Everett, MA. While experience in the rail industry is preferred, we welcome candidates with leadership experience in other complex manufacturing, heavy industrial, transportation, automotive, aerospace, defense, marine, or equipment-based environments.

If you have experience managing complex production, manufacturing, maintenance, or operations projects, improving production processes, and leading field technicians, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3–7+ years of production, operations, maintenance, or manufacturing leadership experience in rail transportation or other complex industrial environments, including heavy equipment, industrial manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, defense, or marine. Rail experience is preferred but not required.
• Previous experience supervising field technicians, maintenance teams, or production personnel.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and control systems. Experience working with rail vehicles or rolling stock is preferred but not required.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Experience with production planning, installation workflows, maintenance programs, manufacturing operations, or field service environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in rail yards, maintenance facilities, and field environments.

Physical Requirements

This position includes work in office, shop, and field environments. Responsibilities may require standing, walking, bending, lifting up to 30 pounds, operating equipment, traveling between work sites, and wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, hearing protection, and other safety gear as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the role.

Key Job Functions

Production & Rail Operations

• Lead production, installation, retrofit, and upgrade activities for rail car mechanical, electrical, and onboard technology systems.
• Develop and manage production schedules, work instructions, and operational documentation.
• Oversee testing, commissioning, and system acceptance activities to ensure projects are completed on time and meet quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with FRA, APTA, OEM, and internal quality and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality Assurance, and technical teams to resolve issues and improve system performance.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency and reduce downtime.

Leadership & Field Management

• Supervise and coordinate field technicians performing installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, inspections, and repairs on rolling stock.
• Schedule daily work assignments and provide coaching, technical guidance, and performance feedback.
• Promote a strong safety culture by enforcing lockout/tagout, rail yard safety procedures, and operational best practices.
• Ensure work is completed according to engineering specifications, project schedules, and quality expectations.
• Coordinate tools, equipment, and materials to support uninterrupted field operations.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex production or maintenance issues.

Operations & Reporting

• Partner with rail agencies, contractors, project managers, and engineering teams to coordinate production activities and resource planning.
• Maintain accurate production records, system documentation, inventory usage, and compliance reports.
• Support procurement, logistics, and inventory management to ensure operational readiness.
• Prepare project status updates, KPIs, and operational reports for leadership.
• Drive initiatives that improve productivity, reliability, safety, and overall operational performance.

JOHN LEONARD is an equal opportunity employer committed to representation, belonging, and accessibility in the workplace. All applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.