Job Description

We are seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead and scale our manufacturing organization.

This is a highly hands-on leadership role for someone who understands how to manufacture complex hardware in a fast-paced environment. You will own the strategy, processes, people, facilities, and systems required to deliver high-quality products reliably and at increasing volumes.

The ideal candidate has built or scaled manufacturing operations within the defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, or other complex hardware industries and is equally comfortable on the production floor, working through technical issues with engineering, and developing the long-term manufacturing strategy.

Leadership Profile

We’re looking for a leader who can build the manufacturing organization, not simply inherit one. You should be comfortable setting the long-term strategy while still spending significant time on the production floor solving today’s problems.

You know how to bring structure and discipline to manufacturing without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. You understand that in a rapidly growing defense company, manufacturing is not simply a downstream function—it is a critical partner to engineering and an essential part of getting capable systems into customers’ hands quickly and reliably.

Key Responsibilities

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, manufacturing engineering, or production leadership, preferably within defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, or complex electromechanical hardware.
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling a manufacturing operation, ideally from prototype or low-rate production into repeatable production.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing complex electromechanical systems, including mechanical assemblies, electronics, wiring/harnessing, integration, and system-level test.
• Experience working closely with engineering organizations to transition products from R&D/NPI into production.
• Strong understanding of production planning, manufacturing engineering, quality systems, supply chain, and inventory management.
• Experience developing production processes, work instructions, tooling, fixtures, test equipment, and manufacturing documentation.
• Familiarity with aerospace and defense quality and compliance environments, such as AS9100, ISO 9001, configuration management, and product traceability.
• Experience managing manufacturing schedules and delivering hardware against aggressive program milestones.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using manufacturing data and KPIs to drive operational improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and manage manufacturing engineers, production personnel, and technicians.
• Ability to operate effectively in an environment where priorities move quickly and leaders are expected to be hands-on problem solvers rather than purely organizational managers.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Bonus Points

ITAR Regulations

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a US Citizen, Green Card holder, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CX2 is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in compliance with the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance