Manufacturing Manager

About the role

The Manufacturing Manager leads the technical and operational execution of aerospace and defense wire‑harness, cable‑assembly, and related electromechanical manufacturing. This role translates released engineering requirements into controlled, repeatable shop‑floor processes while ensuring tooling, materials, workmanship, staffing, and schedules support safe and efficient production. The manager serves as the primary manufacturing subject‑matter expert for harness‑building methods, parts and tooling selection, process development, workforce mentoring, and continuous improvement, working with considerable independence under the Director of Logistics and Manufacturing and directing day‑to‑day production through the Production Manager.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for wire harness and cable assembly manufacturing processes and workmanship practices.
• Review engineering drawings, bills of material, wire lists, schematics, specifications, and work instructions for manufacturability and production readiness.
• Work with Engineering to resolve production questions, clarify released requirements, improve manufacturability, evaluate parts and tooling options, and reduce execution risk without assuming design authority.
• Provide hands‑on technical mentoring and troubleshooting support for crimping, soldering, contact insertion and removal, connector assembly, back shells, shielding, splicing, routing, lacing, sleeving, marking, and electrical testing.
• Evaluate, specify, validate, and implement crimp tools, dies, applicators, wire‑processing equipment, harness boards, fixtures, assembly aids, and test equipment.
• Ensure production tooling is properly identified, qualified, calibrated when required, maintained, and available to support scheduled work.
• Develop, improve, and maintain executable manufacturing processes, work instructions, labor standards, and production documentation for shop‑floor use.
• Lead production readiness, prototype and first‑build execution, process prove‑out, and transition into repeatable production.
• Direct daily manufacturing operations through the Production Manager, including labor allocation, capacity planning, workflow, schedule execution, and issue escalation.
• Coordinate priorities and production risks with Program Management, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and other supporting functions.
• Establish and monitor performance indicators such as on‑time delivery, schedule attainment, first‑pass yield, labor efficiency, rework, scrap, and safety performance.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and corrective actions for workmanship defects, test failures, tooling problems, process escapes, customer returns, and recurring production issues.
• Ensure manufacturing compliance with AS9100, IPC/WHMA‑A‑620, J‑STD‑001 as applicable, customer requirements, ESD controls, FOD prevention practices, and internal procedures.
• Support customer, AS9100, and government audits and ensure timely closure of manufacturing‑related findings and corrective actions.
• Lead Lean and continuous‑improvement initiatives that improve quality, throughput, cost, safety, and use of floor space.
• Mentor and develop the Production Manager, production leads, technicians, and assemblers; identify training and certification needs and promote a culture of craftsmanship and accountability.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning for manufacturing personnel.
• Promote safe work practices and support equipment, facility, and capital planning for manufacturing growth.

Requirements

• Advanced practical knowledge of aerospace and defense wire harness and cable assembly manufacturing.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, wire run lists, bills of material, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to select and apply wire, cable, contacts, connectors, back shells, shielding, sleeving, labels, splices, and related harness components.
• Demonstrated ability to select, validate, and troubleshoot crimp tooling, applicators, wire‑processing equipment, assembly fixtures, harness boards, and electrical test equipment.
• Working knowledge of IPC/WHMA‑A‑620, AS9100, AS9102, ESD controls, FOD prevention, and applicable military or aerospace specifications.
• Strong production planning, capacity management, data analysis, root‑cause analysis, and corrective‑action skills.
• Strong supervisory, coaching, delegation, conflict‑resolution, and performance‑management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal