Manufacturing Manager

Molex is seeking a Manufacturing Manager for our Hudson, WI site — a focused, fast-moving facility that serves the rapidly growing Optical Connectivity business through New Product Introduction (NPI) and volume production. You will lead a growing manufacturing team in the production of high-quality optical connectivity products employing fiber termination, die cutting, surface mount electronics, and light assembly technologies. The site offers end-to-end NPI industrialization, high-speed manufacturing capabilities, and serves as a global Center of Excellence for process and automation technologies.

About the role

You will be accountable for end-to-end operational performance for the site, with a strong emphasis on quality, safety, and continuous improvement. This role requires a hands-on leader who can scale production, deliver disciplined product launches, and partner closely with NPI, engineering, quality, supply chain, and commercial teams to deliver on time and increase customer value.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations and manufacturing execution, ensuring safe, compliant, and on-time delivery of both NPI and Production builds.
• Anticipate and lead change. Build a competitive environment that brings the greatest value to the business.
• Own NPI readiness and launch execution: develop launch plans, coordinate cross-functional readiness reviews, establish process controls, and drive early life quality.
• Coach, mentor, and develop frontline supervisors, production leads, and technicians to build capability and operational discipline.
• Implement and sustain operating systems (MOS / SQDC / PBM principles) and leverage digital tools to improve visibility, process control, and throughput.
• Establish, monitor, and own Production KPIs (safety, quality, delivery, cost, first pass yield, cycle time) and use data-driven decision making to meet or exceed targets.
• Lead continuous improvement and problem-solving activities (Lean, Six Sigma tools recommended) to reduce waste, improve repeatability, and lower cost of poor quality.
• Partner with design and engineering teams to improve product manufacturability and transfer robust processes to scale-up sites.
• Conduct capacity planning for pilot runs and short-term customer commitments; advise on capital needs and resource allocation for site growth.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, quality management systems, and applicable regulatory or customer requirements.
• Manage Production operating budget and cost control initiatives appropriate to site scale; escalate and partner for larger capital or cross-site investments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or business OR 10+ years in manufacturing operations.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing or operations.
• Demonstrated experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, value stream mapping).

Qualifications

• Experience in optical connectivity, connector/electronic assembly, fiber optics, or related precision electromechanical manufacturing.
• Demonstrated responsibility and professional progression.
• Familiarity with MOS / SQDC / Principle-Based Management (PBM) or similar operating systems.
• Technical background with exposure to injection molding, micro-assembly, cable assembly, or precision tooling.
• Familiarity with SAP.
• Proven record of successful production ramps.
• Demonstrated talent development success.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; effective cross-functional collaborator.
• Comfortable in a hands-on, fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

This position is not eligible for VISA sponsorship. In order to comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, this position requires applicants to either provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status or be eligible to receive an export authorization (a license) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations.

Pay

Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts.
• Life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off.
• Educational assistance.
• May include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance.