Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Moses Lake, WA

AeroTEC’s Manufacturing department provides internal and external manufacturing and production services.  The department supports initial design and engineering, prototyping, flight test equipment and part manufacturing, and certified aerospace products manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations, ensuring production goals, quality standards, safety requirements, and customer commitments are achieved. This position works closely with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to ensure manufacturing activities meet project requirements, specifications, schedules, and budget objectives. This role requires the exercise of independent judgment and decision-making in managing manufacturing resources, personnel, and operational performance.

In This Role You Will:

Manufacturing Operations Management

• Manage day-to-day manufacturing operations to ensure production schedules, quality standards, and customer commitments are achieved.

• Coordinate manufacturing activities across multiple concurrent programs and projects.

• Monitor production performance metrics and implement corrective actions when required.

• Ensure manufacturing activities are executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with established procedures.

Resource Planning, Estimating and Execution

• Coordinate labor, equipment, tooling, and facility resources to support production requirements.

• Work with Program Managers and department leaders to prioritize workload and balance resources across programs.

• Support production scheduling and capacity planning activities.

• Monitor departmental expenditures and assist with budget management and cost control initiatives.

• Prepare manufacturing cost estimates and quotations for internal and external customers by evaluating labor, material, tooling, outside processing, and production requirements.

• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and customer requirements to determine manufacturing feasibility, risks, and estimated production costs.

• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to develop accurate and competitive proposals while ensuring manufacturing capabilities and capacity are considered.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, workflow efficiency, and resource utilization.

• Support implementation of lean manufacturing principles and best practices.

• Recommend facility, equipment, and process improvements to enhance operational performance.

Quality and Compliance

• Ensure manufacturing activities comply with company quality standards, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Support audits, inspections, and certification activities as required.

• Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate and resolve manufacturing-related quality issues.

• Ensure proper documentation and recordkeeping practices are maintained.

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise, coach, and develop manufacturing supervisors, leads, and production personnel.

• Foster a safe, accountable, and high-performing work environment.

• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training employees.

• Conduct performance reviews, provide regular feedback, recognize achievements, and address performance issues in accordance with company policies.

• Promote employee engagement and professional development.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, and Program Management teams to support manufacturing objectives and develop manufacturing plans and cost estimates for new business opportunities.

• Participate in project planning and execution meetings to ensure manufacturing readiness.

• Communicate manufacturing status, risks, and resource needs to leadership and stakeholders.

• Support customer interactions and facility visits as required.

Communication and Reporting

• Facilitate regular production and team meetings.

• Maintain accurate production metrics and operational reports.

• Communicate priorities, schedules, and performance expectations to team members.

• Escalate issues and risks appropriately to management.

Safety Leadership

• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture throughout manufacturing operations.

• Proactively identify and address workplace hazards and safety concerns.

• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies and applicable OSHA, local, state, and federal regulations.

• Participate in incident investigations and corrective action implementation.

Company Leadership and Culture

• Act as a role model by demonstrating professionalism, accountability, integrity, and teamwork.

• Support and promote AeroTEC's Core Values.

• Maintain high standards of quality, ethics, and customer service.

• Contribute to a positive and collaborative work environment.

Skills You Will Bring (Minimum):

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.

Experience

• Five (5) to eight (8) years of progressively responsible manufacturing experience.
• Three (3) years of manufacturing leadership or supervisory experience.
• Aerospace manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience supporting multiple concurrent production programs preferred.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with others in an occasionally busy/noisy environment. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Must have the ability to stand for long periods of time.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus.
• Ability to be present at worksite up to 12 hour days as scheduled.
• Travel (flying and driving) to various domestic worksites may be required.