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Manufacturing Production Operative Jobs in Washington

Helsing

Director of Production

Washington, DC · On-site

You have 10+ years of progressive manufacturing/production experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role overseeing production operations * You've operated within the Automotive, Aerospace ...

Crane Company

Manufacturing Engineer

Washington, DC

$82K - $106K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineer performs complex and varied work to develop and recommend improvements ... Direct work activities of production operators to aid in problem solving * Develop procedures and ...

Crane Company

Manufacturing Engineer I

Washington, DC

$82K - $106K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineer I performs directed assignments to develop and recommend improvements in ... Direct work activities of production operators to aid in problem solving * Develop procedures and ...

Dexian

Manufacturing Technician

Manassas, VA · On-site

Manufacturing Technician 1_USD Duration: 2026-06-01 to 2027-04-29 Location: Manassas VA USA 20110 ... Summary We are looking for Production Operators who will be responsible for operating equipment and ...

Henkel

Production operator (1)

Alexandria, VA

$18 - $21.75/hr

Sets up or adjusts equipment according to manufacturing specifications * Monitors the quality of output to identify or discard re-manufacture faulty products * Maintains accurate daily production ...

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Manufacturing Production Operative information

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$10

$22

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How much do manufacturing production operative jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for manufacturing production operative in Washington is $22.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.23 and $25.29 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a manufacturing production operator?

A manufacturing production operator is a worker responsible for operating machinery, assembling products, and ensuring production processes run smoothly on the factory floor. They often follow safety protocols, work with tools and equipment, and may need basic technical skills or certifications. The role typically involves shift work in a manufacturing environment with a focus on efficiency and quality control.

What are some common challenges faced by Manufacturing Production Operatives, and how can they be addressed?

Manufacturing Production Operatives often face challenges such as maintaining consistent quality during fast-paced production runs and adapting to new machinery or processes. Staying vigilant about safety protocols and communicating effectively with team members can help manage these challenges. Regular training sessions and a supportive team environment also play a key role in ensuring operatives can quickly adapt to changes and troubleshoot issues efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Manufacturing Production Operative, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Manufacturing Production Operative, you need attention to detail, manual dexterity, and basic math skills, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with manufacturing machinery, safety protocols, and quality control systems is typically required, and some positions may prefer candidates with forklift or OSHA certifications. Reliability, teamwork, and effective communication are important soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for maintaining efficient production processes, ensuring workplace safety, and delivering consistent product quality.

How much is the salary of a production operator?

The salary of a manufacturing production operative typically ranges from £18,000 to £25,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and the specific industry. Some roles may offer overtime pay or shift allowances, especially for night or weekend shifts.

What is a Manufacturing Production Operative?

A Manufacturing Production Operative is a worker responsible for operating machinery, assembling products, and ensuring production processes run smoothly in a factory or manufacturing environment. Their duties often include monitoring equipment, following safety procedures, and maintaining quality standards. These operatives play a crucial role in keeping production lines efficient and meeting output targets. No formal qualifications are usually required, but attention to detail and the ability to work well in a team are important. Training is often provided on the job.

What is the difference between Manufacturing Production Operative vs Manufacturing Assembly Worker?

AspectManufacturing Production OperativeManufacturing Assembly Worker
CredentialsBasic training, health & safety certificationsBasic training, health & safety certifications
Work EnvironmentFactory floor, production linesFactory floor, assembly lines
Industry UsageCommonly used in manufacturing plantsCommonly used in manufacturing plants
Job FocusOperating machinery, quality checksAssembling components, following instructions

Both roles are essential in manufacturing, often overlapping in work environment and required skills. The Manufacturing Production Operative typically involves operating machinery and quality control, while the Manufacturing Assembly Worker focuses on assembling parts. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right role suited to their skills and career goals.

What does a manufacturing operative do?

A manufacturing operative is responsible for operating machinery, assembling products, and ensuring quality standards are met on the production line. They often follow safety procedures, work in a factory environment, and may need basic technical skills or certifications. Their role supports efficient production and maintaining workflow in manufacturing settings.

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

Manufacturing production operatives typically do not earn $2000 a day; such high daily earnings are usually associated with specialized roles like senior executives, highly skilled contractors, or consultants in certain industries. Most manufacturing roles offer hourly wages or salaries that amount to significantly less than $2000 daily, unless combined with overtime, bonuses, or profit-sharing arrangements.
What are popular job titles related to Manufacturing Production Operative jobs in Washington? For Manufacturing Production Operative jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Manufacturing Production Operative jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Manufacturing Production Operative jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Manufacturing Production Operative jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Manufacturing Production Operative job openings:
Manufacturing Production Operative jobs near you

Director of Production

Helsing

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Who we are
Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitious and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.
The role
You will serve as the operational architect during a pivotal growth phase - standing up and scaling US-based production capabilities, driving manufacturing excellence, and partnering directly with executive leadership to deliver AI-enabled defense products to the warfighter. This is more than managing assembly lines; it's an opportunity to make a tangible impact in the Defense Tech space while building production infrastructure from the ground up and navigating the unique complexities of manufacturing and AI. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where your work directly enables breakthrough technologies for the warfighter, we want to hear from you.
The day-to-day
  • Lead the stand-up and scaling of US manufacturing operations, establishing production lines, workflows, quality systems, and facility infrastructure
  • Develop and execute the production strategy aligned with program milestones, government contract deliverables, and company growth objectives
  • Implement production processes for AI-enabled hardware systems, ensuring repeatability, quality, and compliance with defense manufacturing standards
  • Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing production team - including manufacturing engineers, technicians, quality inspectors, and production planners - capable of supporting rapid growth
  • Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Contracts, and Finance to ensure production alignment on government contracts
  • Establish and manage quality management systems (QMS) compliant with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable DoD manufacturing requirements
  • Own production KPIs and reporting, including yield, throughput, cost-per-unit, on-time delivery, and defect rates, and present board-level updates that drive executive decision-making
  • Collaborate with the supply chain and procurement teams to design cost-efficient sourcing strategies that satisfy federal and/or state procurement requirements, including managing tariff exposure on imported goods and materials
  • Ensure full compliance with SSA governance requirements, maintaining appropriate separation protocols while optimizing production operations across the organization
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and increase production capacity
  • Manage relationships with contract manufacturers, tooling vendors, and facility partners to supplement and scale internal production capabilities
  • Support CAPEX planning and facility buildout in partnership with Finance, ensuring sound investment frameworks for equipment, tooling, and infrastructure
  • Ensure workplace safety and regulatory compliance across all production environments, including OSHA, environmental, and cleared facility requirements
You should apply if you
  • You have 10+ years of progressive manufacturing/production experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role overseeing production operations
  • You've operated within the Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, or National Security technology sector and understand the nuances of government contract deliverables, ITAR/EAR, and defense manufacturing requirements
  • You've built or scaled production functions at a startup or high-growth company and know how to balance scrappiness with rigor
  • You have experience standing up manufacturing lines from greenfield or near-greenfield conditions, including facility layout, equipment selection, and workforce planning
  • You possess a strong command of production planning, capacity modeling, and resource allocation strategies
  • You have demonstrated experience with quality management systems (AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent) and continuous improvement methodologies
  • You communicate complex operational concepts with clarity and influence to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike
  • You're energized by ambiguity, thrive under pressure, and are motivated by mission-driven work
  • Ability to be granted and maintain a SECRET clearance, including US Citizenship.

Note: We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.
Nice to Have
  • Direct experience working under a Special Security Agreement (SSA) or Proxy Agreement structure with a foreign-owned parent company
  • Background working with cleared facilities, FOCI mitigation, and DSS/DCSA interactions
  • Familiarity with FAR/DFARS manufacturing and quality clauses, DCMA oversight, and first article testing (FAT) requirements
  • Experience with hardware production for autonomous systems, edge computing platforms, drones/UAS, or electronic warfare systems
  • Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (Deltek Costpoint, NetSuite, SAP, or similar) and production management tools
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt certification
  • Experience managing ITAR-controlled production environments
  • Engineering degree (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Electrical) or MBA with a production/operations focus
  • Active or current SECRET or above clearance
Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields
  • Helsing's work is important. You'll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
  • The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world
  • Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defense industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward
  • In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts
  • We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practice responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn't work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about
What we offer
  • A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking
  • A generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to base salary) that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.
  • Growth toward global roles in our Finance organization

The base salary offered to the successful candidate will be determined by a variety of factors including relevant experience, qualifications, education, skill level, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.
Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.
Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.

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