Operations Manager Engineer Jobs in Columbus, OH

Company Overview

DariFill, Inc. is a manufacturer of filling and packaging solutions for ice cream novelties, serving some of the most recognized dairy brands in North America. With a strong and growing customer base and a team that takes deep pride in the quality of its machines, DariFill is at an exciting stage of scaling its operations and building the infrastructure to support continued growth.

Position Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of Assembly, Maintenance, Manufacturing Engineering, and Project Management functions. This role oversees the people, processes, and systems that convert customer orders into finished, field-ready machines — on time, on budget, and at the quality standard DariFill's customers expect.

The Operations Manager reports directly to the Director of Operations and is a key member of the DariFill leadership team. This is a builder's role — the right candidate will be energized by creating structure, developing people, and establishing the operational rhythms that allow a growing business to perform consistently.

Core Responsibilities

Assembly & Production

• Lead and develop two Assembly Supervisors and their teams to deliver consistent, high-quality machine builds
• Establish and maintain production scheduling, capacity planning, and workflow visibility across the Assembly floor
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and floor-level ownership
• Partner with Engineering to improve build quality, reduce rework, and implement design-for-assembly improvements
• Develop and implement a daily operations rhythm — including a morning standup or equivalent — to drive communication and accountability

Maintenance & Facilities

• Oversee the maintenance and facilities function to ensure equipment uptime and a safe, organized working environment
• Develop a preventive maintenance program for production equipment where one does not exist

Manufacturing Engineering & Project Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership direction to the MFG Engineer and Project Manager
• Ensure capital projects, equipment modifications, and process improvement initiatives are scoped, resourced, and executed on time
• Facilitate cross-functional coordination between Operations, Engineering, and Technical Services on active projects

People & Culture

• Directly manage Assembly Supervisors, MFG Engineer, Project Manager, and Maintenance — with full accountability for their performance, development, and engagement
• Build a high-trust team environment that attracts and retains good people
• Develop clear performance expectations and a regular feedback cadence for all direct reports

Process & Systems

• Lead the identification and implementation of operational process improvements across all functions
• Partner with IT and Technical Services on Argus, Acumatica, and any systems that touch the production workflow
• Build the documentation, standard work, and operating rhythms that make the operation scalable and repeatable

Key Performance Indicators

• On-time delivery rate against customer committed dates
• Assembly rework and quality defect rate
• Production schedule attainment
• Employee retention and turnover within the Operations team
• Preventive maintenance compliance for production equipment
• Active project on-time and on-budget completion rate

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional teams including production and maintenance
• Strong working knowledge of production scheduling, ERP systems, and lean or continuous improvement methodologies
• Proven ability to develop people and build team accountability at multiple levels
• Excellent communication skills — comfortable on the floor, in the office, and in front of customers when needed
• Ability to travel up to 25%, including customer site visits and field coordination as needed

Preferred

• Experience in capital equipment manufacturing, food equipment, or similarly regulated custom manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with Acumatica or similar ERP platforms
• Experience implementing or improving a daily operations management system — daily standup, visual management, tiered meetings, or equivalent
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field

Why Join DariFill as Operations Manager

• Direct impact on a growing company with a strong customer base and a clear trajectory
• A Director and leadership team who will invest in your development and give you real ownership from day one
• The opportunity to build operational infrastructure largely from the ground up — this is a builder's role, not a maintainer's role
• A team that genuinely cares about the business and the quality of its product
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
• Participation in DariFill's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), eligible after 90 days of service