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Director Of Operations Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Reports to and receives strategic project (P&L) guidance from the assigned Vice President of Strategic Operations. * Receives functional and technical guidance from the Director of Project Services.

Possesses extensive knowledge of Company operations and processes across functional groups ... A Director of Preconstruction has primary responsibility for leading our Industrial team ...

Possesses extensive knowledge of Company operations and processes across functional groups ... A Director of Preconstruction has primary responsibility for leading our Industrial team ...

Showing results 21-40

Director Of Operations information

See Madison, WI salary details

$34.3K

$108.5K

$180.9K

How much do director of operations jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of operations in Madison, WI is $108,518.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,100.00 and $136,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of operations do?

A Director of Operations oversees the daily activities of a company or organization, ensuring that business processes run efficiently and effectively. They are responsible for implementing policies, managing budgets, optimizing workflows, and coordinating between departments to achieve organizational goals. This role often involves strategic planning, problem-solving, and leading teams to improve productivity and profitability. Directors of Operations play a key part in shaping company culture and driving operational excellence.

What is a director of operations?

The director of operations of a company focuses on the day-to-day functions of a team or department, ensuring that they complete projects in a timely fashion. Working under the order of superior officers in the company, you delegate tasks and responsibilities to the best-suited employees in the department. You also make sure to inform your superiors of the project's status and your ongoing strategy. In addition to your employee management duties, you also focus on the efficiency of the work in regards to financial expenditures. You also evaluate employee performance, including upper management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of operations?

To thrive as a Director of Operations, you need strong leadership, strategic planning, and operational management skills, typically supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, project management tools, and relevant certifications like Six Sigma or PMP is often expected. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities help you lead teams and drive organizational efficiency. These competencies are crucial for ensuring seamless business operations, meeting organizational goals, and fostering continuous improvement.

What are some common challenges faced by directors of operations when leading cross-functional teams?

Directors of Operations often encounter challenges such as aligning different departmental goals, managing communication gaps, and balancing competing priorities among team members. Successfully addressing these issues requires strong leadership, clear communication, and the ability to foster collaboration across diverse teams. Directors must also be adept at conflict resolution and change management to ensure that operational objectives are met efficiently while maintaining a positive team dynamic.

Is a director of operations a high position?

A director of operations is a senior management role responsible for overseeing daily business activities, implementing strategies, and ensuring organizational efficiency. It is considered a high-level position often reporting to executives like the CEO or COO, and typically requires extensive experience and leadership skills.

What does a director of operations typically make?

A director of operations typically earns a salary ranging from $80,000 to over $150,000 annually, depending on the industry, company size, and location. They often receive additional compensation such as bonuses, profit sharing, or benefits, and are responsible for overseeing daily business activities, strategic planning, and team management.

What are the most commonly searched types of Of Operations jobs in Madison, WI?

The most popular types of Of Operations jobs in Madison, WI are:

What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Director Of Operations jobs?

Cities near Madison, WI with the most Director Of Operations job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Of Operations job openings in Madison, WI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,518 per year, or $52.2 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 hours ago


Job description

Sierra Space Careers:

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the RoleSierra Space is scaling from development programs into high-rate, repeatable production across a diversified portfolio of military and commercial systems, including satellites and spacecraft, propulsion systems, solar power systems, and the Dream Chaser spaceplane. As Director, Production Operations based in Madison, Wisconsin, you will play a critical role in executing the production strategy for propulsion development and manufacturing, building the operational systems required to deliver hardware at pace, at quality, and at cost.
This is an execution-focused leadership role for a proven operations professional with expertise in propulsion systems. Reporting to the Vice President, Production, you will lead manufacturing and assembly operations for propulsion product lines and additional enterprise products within Sierra Space's Madison facility. You will drive standardization of production processes, implement data-driven manufacturing systems, and build high-performing teams capable of scaling propulsion output while maintaining quality and efficiency. You will partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to ensure production readiness and on-time delivery of critical propulsion systems for space and defense applications.About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower - to join us in this critical mission.

We're looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals - while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead manufacturing and assembly operations for propulsion product lines, including day-to-day oversight of production floor activities, scheduling, and workflow management at the Madison, WI facility.

  • Execute production strategy to scale propulsion manufacturing from development programs into repeatable, high-rate production with a focus on throughput, yield, and cost efficiency.

  • Standardize propulsion production processes and workflows to create consistent, repeatable, high-quality build operations aligned with enterprise-wide best practices.

  • Support capacity planning and facility buildout efforts for propulsion manufacturing, including layout optimization, equipment installation, and production line commissioning.

  • Drive vertical integration initiatives by standing up and maturing internal propulsion manufacturing capabilities, including additive manufacturing, machining, assembly, and test operations for propulsion components and systems.

  • Implement and mature manufacturing execution systems (MES) and production data infrastructure to enable traceability, repeatability, and real-time visibility into propulsion manufacturing performance.

  • Establish andmaintainproduction operating rhythm through KPIs, dashboards, and review cadences focused on cycle time, yield, throughput, labor efficiency, on-time delivery, and cost for propulsion production.

  • Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) toidentifyandeliminateproduction inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve quality in propulsion operations.

  • Collaborate with Propulsion Engineering and Product Assurance to drive design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-test (DFT) into propulsion product development and support new product introduction (NPI) activities.

  • Partner across Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Facilities, Security, and Program Management to ensure aligned production readiness, material availability, and execution against propulsion program schedules.

  • Manage production budgets for propulsion operations and analyze manufacturing costs to implement cost-saving measures thatmaintainquality standards and support financial goals.

  • Lead and develop production management teams at the Madison facility, including supervisors, engineers, and technicians, fostering collaboration and accountability while upholding company values and a culture of operational excellence.

  • Ensure compliance with industry-specific production standards, safety regulations, and quality management systems (ISO, AS9100, GMP, etc.) applicable to aerospace and propulsion manufacturing operations.

  • Represent propulsion production operations in cross-functional forums and communicate status, risks, and mitigation plans to executive leadership and external stakeholders, including customers and regulatory bodies.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree).

  • 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, or operations roles in complex technical industries, witha significant portionin leadership positions.

  • The ability to obtain andmaintainaTop SecretU.S. Security Clearance isrequired

  • Proventrack recordof successfully managing large teams and complex production projects in high-rate manufacturing environments.

  • Strong background in manufacturing processes, assembly & integration, and operational execution for complex electromechanical or aerospace systems, with emphasis on propulsion systems preferred.

  • Demonstrated experience implementing and scaling production operations, including process standardization, workflow optimization, and capacity planning.

  • Experience with data-driven manufacturing systems, MES, and production management processes, including OKR development and performance tracking.

  • Knowledge of design-for-manufacturing (DFM) principles and ability to collaborate with engineering teams tooptimizeproduct designs for production.

  • Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive operational excellence in fast-paced, highly technical environments.

  • Expertisein continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) with proven ability toidentifyandeliminateproduction inefficiencies.

  • Strong financial acumen withdemonstratedability to manage production budgets, analyze manufacturing costs, and implement cost-saving measures.

  • In-depth knowledge of industry-specific production standards, safety regulations, and quality management systems (ISO, AS9100, GMP, etc.).

  • Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability torepresentproduction interests effectively to executive leadership and external stakeholders.

  • Ability to uphold and model company values while holding others accountable and fostering a culture of operational excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in propulsion manufacturing and test operations, including liquid or hybrid rocket engines, thrusters, or propulsion subsystems.

  • Familiarity with additive manufacturing (3D printing) for propulsion components, including metal printing processes and post-processing.

  • Experience in aerospace, defense, satellite, launch, or high-rate hardware manufacturing across both military and commercial product lines.

  • Experience with vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities such as propulsion, fluid systems, PCBAs, structures, or integrated vehicle production.

  • Experience with spacecraft or satellite integration and production.

  • Familiarity with classified manufacturing and secure production operations.

  • Experience implementing lean or continuous-improvement frameworks at scale in production environments.

  • Experience with automated manufacturing, MES implementation, or production data systems.

  • Experience leading organizational change initiatives specific to production environments, including technology implementation, process redesign, and workforce development.

  • Experience building and scaling production teams during periods of rapid company growth.

  • Master's degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related field.

Compensation:

Pay Range:

$164,513.00 - $226,205.00

Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education,experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires the ability to obtain andmaintainaTop SecretU.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status isrequiredas this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, securityviolationsand illegal drug use.

Elevate Your Career

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations.


We also offer a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, and more.

Sierra Space is an industry-leading space and defense technology company providing satellites, spacecraft, and enabling mission systems and components. We deliver mission-proven technologies to our customers that safeguard our nation, protect space-based assets and enable space exploration.

Application Deadline: This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Please note: Sierra Space does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to Sierra Space team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of Sierra Space, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

Sierra Space Corporationis an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment withSierra Spaceor at any stage of the recruitment process, pleasecontact us.