Operations Manager - NPI & Production Transfers
Los Osos, CA
Full Time
Manager/Supervisor
Operations Manager - NPI & Production Transfers
Reports to: Director, Operations Strategy and Programs
Scope
The Operations Manager – NPI & Production Transfers leads the operations cross-functional team from development and transfer planning through production readiness, first builds, qualification support, ramp, and transition to steady production. The role owns the integrated operational plan and ensures the business is ready to build, test, inspect, and deliver products at the required quality, cost, and schedule targets.
The role partners with Engineering early in development to incorporate operational requirements, Design for Manufacturability, and power supply DTUPC targets into design decisions. This includes addressing manufacturability, supplier capability, material availability, assembly and test requirements, and labor capacity before production launch.
The Operations Manager sets operational priorities, aligns functional owners on deliverables and required dates, and drives cross-functional actions and decisions. The role tracks readiness and projected unit cost against targets, drives closure of gaps, and escalates resource conflicts or unresolved risks. Following ramp, the role coordinates the handoff of ongoing production ownership to the responsible Operations team.
The role also leads production transfers to the Layton, Utah facility and coordinates the buildout of new manufacturing areas. This includes establishing transfer schedules and readiness criteria and aligning functional owners on layout, equipment installation, material flow, staffing, training, documentation, and qualification requirements. The Operations Manager coordinates execution across sending and receiving teams while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery commitments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position requires access to our export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology and services. These items are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to U.S. Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S. and properly licensed foreign persons. Therefore, employment is contingent on compliance with ITAR regulations and successfully obtaining and maintaining the necessary export authorization license from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of State’s Office of Defense Trade Controls, or other applicable government agency.
Education and Experience
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Reports to: Director, Operations Strategy and Programs
Scope
The Operations Manager – NPI & Production Transfers leads the operations cross-functional team from development and transfer planning through production readiness, first builds, qualification support, ramp, and transition to steady production. The role owns the integrated operational plan and ensures the business is ready to build, test, inspect, and deliver products at the required quality, cost, and schedule targets.
The role partners with Engineering early in development to incorporate operational requirements, Design for Manufacturability, and power supply DTUPC targets into design decisions. This includes addressing manufacturability, supplier capability, material availability, assembly and test requirements, and labor capacity before production launch.
The Operations Manager sets operational priorities, aligns functional owners on deliverables and required dates, and drives cross-functional actions and decisions. The role tracks readiness and projected unit cost against targets, drives closure of gaps, and escalates resource conflicts or unresolved risks. Following ramp, the role coordinates the handoff of ongoing production ownership to the responsible Operations team.
The role also leads production transfers to the Layton, Utah facility and coordinates the buildout of new manufacturing areas. This includes establishing transfer schedules and readiness criteria and aligning functional owners on layout, equipment installation, material flow, staffing, training, documentation, and qualification requirements. The Operations Manager coordinates execution across sending and receiving teams while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery commitments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Lead Operations for new product introductions and productions transfers through readiness planning, initial builds, qualification support, ramp, and transition to steady production.
- Design, implement, and continuously improve a standardized operations readiness and knowledge transfer framework, including checklists, templates, communication plans, and stage-gate reviews. Tailor the requirements to the scope and risk of each introduction or transfer.
- Engage with Engineering early in development to ensure Operations requirements, Design for Manufacturability, and DTUPC targets are incorporated into design decisions. Identify and drive resolution of risks related to manufacturability, supplier capability, assembly complexity, and test requirements before production launch.
- Lead the Operations effort to achieve power supply DTUPC targets, working with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Test to establish material, assembly, and test cost assumptions. Track projected unit cost against target throughout development and production ramp, identify gaps, and drive actions to close them.
- Lead the operations cross-functional team, aligning Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Materials, Planning, and Test on priorities, deliverables, risks, actions, and required dates. Work with functional leaders to secure support and resolve competing priorities.
- Support proposal development by providing Operations assumptions for manufacturability, production approach, material strategy, supplier capability, labor and capacity requirements, test needs, lead times, and DTUPC feasibility before bid submission.
- Build and maintain integrated launch and transfer plans with clear owners, milestones, dependencies, and readiness requirements covering material, suppliers, manufacturing processes, quality, test, staffing, capacity, and production ramp. This includes the physical coordination of NPI production hardware ensuring it progresses as necessary.
- Lead planning and execution of work transfers to the Layton, Utah facility and other assigned locations, including coordination of new manufacturing area buildouts. Align functional owners on layout, equipment, material flow, staffing, training, documentation, and qualification requirements. Coordinate activities across sending and receiving facilities to maintain quality and delivery commitments.
- Assess readiness for programs returning after extended production breaks. Review changes to product configuration, material availability, suppliers, equipment, tooling, personnel, processes, and test capability, and establish required actions before production resumes.
- Partner with Engineering and Program Management to establish readiness for the first manufacturing build, including clear product requirements, released and controlled documentation, appropriate tooling and work instructions, and defined ownership of remaining risks.
- Lead Production Readiness Reviews for assigned programs, including assessment of projected unit cost against DTUPC targets. Ensure gaps have accountable owners, due dates, and closure plans, and present unresolved risks to leadership for launch or transfer decisions.
- Review and challenge assumptions related to material cost and lead time, manufacturing lead time, assembly and test labor hours, capacity, yield, rework, and production ramp. Use development and early production build results to validate assumptions and update projected unit cost against DTUPC targets, distinguishing initial build performance from expected performance at the planned production rate.
- Drive supplier readiness for critical material in partnership with Supply Chain and Quality, including supplier capacity, first article status, technical issue resolution, recovery plans, and supplier quality risks.
- Lead regular execution reviews using integrated schedules, readiness metrics, action trackers, and risk registers. Identify barriers affecting cost, quality, schedule, or delivery, and drive resolution with clear owners and due dates.
- Escalate issues to senior leadership when functional support, decisions, resources, or recovery actions are needed to protect program objectives.
- Establish clear criteria for completion of production ramp and transfer ongoing execution ownership to the responsible Operations team. Confirm production performance, documentation, and training meet agreed requirements, with clear ownership of remaining risks and actions.
- Capture lessons learned from DVT, qualification, transfers, and early production builds, and drive resulting improvements into product designs, manufacturing processes, and the operations readiness framework.
- Ensure Company policies are administered in a fair and consistent manner.
- Ability to work flexible hours and/or different shifts, as required.
- Ability to work in a safe and professional manner while adhering to applicable OSHA, EPA, State, Federal, and Company requirements.
- As the Company’s success relies on the productivity of our team and adherence to customer product schedules, an essential function of this position is the ability to arrive to work on time and work each day as scheduled.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position requires access to our export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology and services. These items are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to U.S. Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S. and properly licensed foreign persons. Therefore, employment is contingent on compliance with ITAR regulations and successfully obtaining and maintaining the necessary export authorization license from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of State’s Office of Defense Trade Controls, or other applicable government agency.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or other related field, or equivalent work experience.
- 7+ years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, NPI, or related technical operations role preferred.
- Experience supporting new product introduction, production readiness, development-to-production transition, production ramp, or similar launch activity preferred.
- Ability to demonstrate sound reasoning and critical thinking in assessing schedule, material, supplier, labor, quality, cost, and production risk.
- Strong leadership capability; ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct positional authority.
- Proficient with Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MRP/ERP systems.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with all levels of employees, suppliers, customers, and external stakeholders.
- Strong work ethic, ownership, organizational skills, and follow-through.
- Strong project management skills, including action tracking, milestone management, risk management, and escalation.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee needs to be able to sit, stand and move about the inside of the facility to manage the workforce.
- Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as; calculator, copy machine, printers, etc.
- Lifting and handling of boxes and/or materials up to a maximum of 50 pounds occasionally, and 25 pounds on a regular basis.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job; close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
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