Job Title: Director of Operations
Reports To: VP Operations
Location: Orange County, CA

What We’re Looking For (Overview)
Company is seeking a hands-on, strategic Director of Operations to lead and scale operations for a manufacturer of highly engineered power and communications solutions serving the commercial, military, and space industries. This leader will be responsible for driving operational performance across production, materials, planning, supply chain, facilities, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, high-reliability manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of executive-level leadership and day-to-day operational discipline, with experience in aerospace, defense, RF/microwave electronics, satellite communications, or other highly regulated advanced manufacturing settings. This individual will know how to build structure, improve visibility, elevate execution, and partner cross-functionally to support growth, quality, and on-time delivery. This positioning aligns with the company’s public market profile and with comparable operations leadership roles across aerospace/defense manufacturers.

What You’ll Be Doing / A Day In The Life (Responsibilities / Scope of Position)

Lead day-to-day operations across manufacturing, production, assembly, test, materials, planning, inventory, facilities, and related operational functions.
Build a high-accountability operating cadence around safety, quality, on-time delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
Partner closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and executive leadership to align capacity, material readiness, production priorities, and customer commitments.
Drive operational excellence initiatives that improve throughput, efficiency, schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, and overall plant performance.
Establish and monitor KPIs and dashboards for operational health, including on-time delivery, cycle time, backlog, labor efficiency, scrap/rework, inventory turns, and forecast-to-build alignment.
Strengthen ERP/MRP discipline, production planning, and execution processes to improve visibility and decision-making.
Lead materials and supply chain coordination to reduce shortages, improve supplier responsiveness, and support predictable production flow.
Oversee production scheduling and resource allocation to ensure customer requirements are met while balancing labor, equipment, and working capital.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and other structured problem-solving methods.
Ensure operations are executed in compliance with applicable quality, regulatory, and customer standards associated with aerospace/defense and space-related manufacturing environments.
Support new product introduction and transition-to-production efforts to ensure manufacturability, scalability, and operational readiness.
Develop and mentor leaders and teams across operations, building a culture centered on execution, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Serve as a visible operational leader on the floor as well as at the leadership table, helping the organization scale effectively while maintaining high standards of quality and reliability.

What’s Required (Required Skills & Experience)

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in aerospace, defense, RF/microwave electronics, satellite communications, or other complex electromechanical manufacturing environments.
Proven experience leading manufacturing operations in a high-mix, low-to-medium volume setting with demanding quality and delivery expectations.
Strong background in production, materials, planning, inventory, and supply chain coordination.
Experience implementing and driving KPI-based management systems, daily operating rhythms, and cross-functional accountability.
Demonstrated success improving on-time delivery, throughput, inventory management, and cost performance through process discipline and continuous improvement.
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and the operational rigor required to support scalable manufacturing.
Familiarity with regulated quality systems and compliance frameworks commonly found in aerospace and defense manufacturing environments, including AS9100 and export-controlled or customer-driven requirements.
Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence across engineering, quality, finance, and executive teams.
Experience building, coaching, and developing teams through growth, change, and operational transformation.
Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Lean / Six Sigma training or certification is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting products involving RF/microwave, power electronics, or other highly engineered technical assemblies is strongly preferred.

What We’re Offering (Compensation)

Competitive base salary
Annual bonus opportunity
Comprehensive benefits package, including medical coverage, life insurance, 401(k), disability coverage, paid time off, and company-paid holidays
Opportunity to join a growing, innovative manufacturer serving mission-critical commercial, defense, and space applications