Manufacturing Project Manager

Responsibilities

• Drive manufacturing projects end to end
• Own project plans for assembly ramp-up, process improvements, and new vendor onboarding. Track milestones, flag risks early, and keep timelines realistic and honest
• Cook up cross-functional coordination between R&D, quality, supply chain, and the shop floor. Make sure design changes, vendor issues, and production constraints don’t surprise anyone
• Own Supply Chain Management and Manage vendor timelines. Track deliverables from fabrication, brazing, coatings, and electronics vendors. Escalate delays before they become crises. Keep a clear picture of who owes what, by when
• Stand up production tracking, scheduling, and visual management tools appropriate for our stage. Keep documentation current so anyone can see project status at a glance
• Support quality and delivery. Help enforce quality checkpoints throughout assembly and testing. Track corrective actions to closure. Keep an eye on how project decisions affect delivery timelines and cost
• Report up and out. Give leadership a clear, honest read on where projects stand — on schedule, at risk, or off track — and what it’ll take to fix it

Requirements

• Must-have: BS in Supply Chain Management or Engineering with relevant experience, 3+ years in supply chain, procurement, or vendor management, ideally in a manufacturing environment
• A proven track record sourcing, qualifying, and managing vendors — from initial sourcing through ongoing relationship management
• Hands-on experience with inventory management and controls (stocking levels, cycle counts, reconciliation)
• Comfort managing purchase orders, invoices, and procurement processes in a fast-moving environment
• Strong negotiation skills and a track record of managing cost without sacrificing quality or delivery
• Comfort making calls with incomplete information

Qualifications

• Nice-to-have: Startup experience (20–200 people), experience in advanced batteries, aerospace, optics, photonics, semiconductor, or other precision or specialty manufacturing
• Knowledge of any of the following: brazing, welding, high temperature materials, advanced ceramics, optomechanical systems, optical coatings, vacuum systems, semiconductors, microfabrication, and semiconductor packaging
• Familiarity with supplier quality management and performance metrics