Head of Manufacturing Jobs
Head of Manufacturing jobs are open across automotive, industrial equipment, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage, from plant manager to VP level, with specializations in lean operations, process engineering, and supply chain integration. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 19+ Head of Manufacturing jobs
Why LeoLabs?
At LeoLabs, we're building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.
We're not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations.
If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.
LeoLabs is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead the next phase of production scaling of our radar systems. This leader will own the manufacturing strategy, industrialization roadmap, quality management, facility scaling, and cross-functional execution required to increase production capacity beyond 10x. This role may be leveled as Senior Director or Vice President level based on the successful candidate’s experience, leadership scope and demonstrated ability to own the function. The role with report directly to the SVP, Radars. This role is a full-time, in-person position based at our headquarters in Menlo Park, CA. Regular domestic travel is expected.
The Head of Manufacturing will turn LeoLabs’ advanced radar designs from low/medium-rate initial production into repeatable, scalable, high-rate production systems. You will collaborate with and leverage support from Product, Supply Chain, Radar Systems and Hardware Engineering, Program Management, Finance and Accounting, and executive leadership to build the manufacturing capacity that enables LeoLabs to deploy radar systems more reliably and at greater scale for the U.S. Government, allies, and commercial customers.
The preferred candidate has done this before – they are a leader who has built and sustained a manufacturing system, rather than someone who has only managed an existing operation. This candidate is a hands-on manufacturing executive or emerging executive from a high-performance production environment such as aerospace, defense technology, automotive, or other complex hardware industries. They have scaled production systems from the ground up, built functional teams, improved quality, stood up facilities or production lines, and operated with urgency in environments where reliability, repeatability, and mission success matter.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Strategy & Scale
- Own LeoLabs’ high-rate manufacturing and industrialization strategy for radar systems, subsystems, and associated high-reliability hardware across manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test operations.
- Build and scale a production system and team capable of supporting 10x growth in radar production over the next 2 years while maintaining high standards for quality, reliability, integration, and deployment readiness.
- Define the operating model across internal manufacturing, external suppliers, contract manufacturing, and integration partners.
- Own the high-rate production footprint plan including facility needs, equipment, tooling, staffing, and capital investment.
- Stand up scalable production lines, work cells, fixtures, test stations, documentation, and acceptance processes for radar hardware, RF systems, electronics, electromechanical assemblies, power systems, compute infrastructure, and system-level integration.
- Establish the scaled manufacturing steady state including production planning, throughput management, capacity planning, cost analysis, quality, and delivery execution.
Industrialization
- Own the transition from engineering builds to production-ready designs.
- Establish and mature release and readiness gates, first-article processes, and build documentation.
- Partner with Radar Systems and Hardware Engineering teams to industrialize new radar designs, ensuring manufacturability, testability, serviceability, configuration control, and production readiness.
- Partner with engineering NPI manufacturing team to improve manufacturability, DfX, and cost reduction opportunities.
- Ensure new radar products have validated build plans, test procedures, tooling, factory acceptance testing criteria, and supplier plans before production ramp.
- Create a functioning feedback system from manufacturing and sustainment back into product and engineering.
Quality, Reliability & Production
- Build and mature the quality management system required for high-reliability radar systems serving mission-critical customers.
- Establish clear standards for configuration control, traceability, inspection, nonconformance management, corrective action, supplier quality, and production acceptance.
- Drive measurable improvements in yield, first-pass quality, rework, scrap, field defects, and schedule performance.
- Build strong review mechanisms for failures, escapes, production risks, and systemic issues.
- Partner with Technical Program Management to align production readiness and execution with program, contract, customer, and deployment commitments
- Partner with Supply Chain on supplier readiness, long-lead planning, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.
- Partner with the Radar Operations Center and Global Infrastructure to turn field performance and maintenance data into product and process improvements to increase performance, reduce operational impacts, and decrease maintenance costs.
- Develop manufacturing KPIs and high-level dashboards for throughput, schedule metrics, yield, labor tracking, cost, quality, rework, scrap, supplier performance, and field reliability.
Team Leadership
- Establish and lead the LeoLabs Production System, creating a common operating model for safety, quality, delivery, cost and people. Implement tiered daily management, visual controls, standard work, structured problem solving, leader standard work, production flow, capacity management and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, develop, and lead a world-class manufacturing organization including manufacturing operations, production, test operations, quality, facilities, and related functions.
- Set clear ownership and metrics across the manufacturing organization.
- Build a culture of execution, urgency, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Required Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience in manufacturing, production operations, industrialization, factory operations, manufacturing engineering, or related operational leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience implementing and leading a mature Lean manufacturing or production operating system, such as the Toyota Production System, including standard work, visual management, daily accountability, structured problem solving, flow, built-in quality, waste reduction and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated experience scaling production capacity, standing up production lines or facilities, and improving throughput, quality, cost, and delivery performance.
- Experience manufacturing complex, high-reliability hardware in industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, advanced electronics, robotics, industrial automation, energy systems, RF systems, communications, space systems, or mission-critical infrastructure.
- Experience with quality management systems and standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, IPC standards, ESD controls, supplier quality, first-article inspection
- Strong technical fluency with hardware product development, NPI, configuration control, test operations, production readiness, and root-cause corrective action.
- Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain required U.S. security clearances, as applicable to this role.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, industrial engineering, supply chain, business, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Formal training or demonstrated practitioner experience in Toyota Production System, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma or an equivalent operating system. Black Belt, Master Black Belt, TPS practitioner/trainer or comparable credentials preferred.
- Experience developing greenfield or brownfield production facilities, production lines, integration sites, or manufacturing cells.
- Experience with radar, RF systems, antennas, communications systems, sensors, satellites, ground systems, aerospace systems, or other complex electromechanical products.
- Experience supporting Department of War, Space Force, NASA, or allied government customers.
- Experience working with classified, export-controlled, ITAR/EAR-controlled, or otherwise sensitive hardware programs.
- Master’s degree in engineering, operations, business administration, manufacturing, supply chain, or a related discipline.
Compensation
This position is benchmarked to San Francisco Bay Area with a base salary range of $225,000 - $248,000, plus bonus, equity, and benefits.
Compensation Note: The salary range for this position is benchmarked based on the designated primary work location for the role. Final compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s work location, applicable market data, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
Perks and Benefits
- Global workforce: flexible remote/hybrid opportunities
- Work on complex, meaningful missions with real-world impact
- Unlimited paid time off for most roles
- Competitive salary and equity packages
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
- Access to the forefront of commercial space operations and defense innovation
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the
U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC's website.
Pay: $225,000.00 - $248,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Menlo Park, CA 94025
Why LeoLabs?
At LeoLabs, we're building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.
We're not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations.
If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.
LeoLabs is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead the next phase of production scaling of our radar systems. This leader will own the manufacturing strategy, industrialization roadmap, quality management, facility scaling, and cross-functional execution required to increase production capacity beyond 10x. This role may be leveled as Senior Director or Vice President level based on the successful candidate’s experience, leadership scope and demonstrated ability to own the function. The role with report directly to the SVP, Radars. This role is a full-time, in-person position based at our headquarters in Menlo Park, CA. Regular domestic travel is expected.
The Head of Manufacturing will turn LeoLabs’ advanced radar designs from low/medium-rate initial production into repeatable, scalable, high-rate production systems. You will collaborate with and leverage support from Product, Supply Chain, Radar Systems and Hardware Engineering, Program Management, Finance and Accounting, and executive leadership to build the manufacturing capacity that enables LeoLabs to deploy radar systems more reliably and at greater scale for the U.S. Government, allies, and commercial customers.
The preferred candidate has done this before – they are a leader who has built and sustained a manufacturing system, rather than someone who has only managed an existing operation. This candidate is a hands-on manufacturing executive or emerging executive from a high-performance production environment such as aerospace, defense technology, automotive, or other complex hardware industries. They have scaled production systems from the ground up, built functional teams, improved quality, stood up facilities or production lines, and operated with urgency in environments where reliability, repeatability, and mission success matter.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Strategy & Scale
- Own LeoLabs’ high-rate manufacturing and industrialization strategy for radar systems, subsystems, and associated high-reliability hardware across manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test operations.
- Build and scale a production system and team capable of supporting 10x growth in radar production over the next 2 years while maintaining high standards for quality, reliability, integration, and deployment readiness.
- Define the operating model across internal manufacturing, external suppliers, contract manufacturing, and integration partners.
- Own the high-rate production footprint plan including facility needs, equipment, tooling, staffing, and capital investment.
- Stand up scalable production lines, work cells, fixtures, test stations, documentation, and acceptance processes for radar hardware, RF systems, electronics, electromechanical assemblies, power systems, compute infrastructure, and system-level integration.
- Establish the scaled manufacturing steady state including production planning, throughput management, capacity planning, cost analysis, quality, and delivery execution.
Industrialization
- Own the transition from engineering builds to production-ready designs.
- Establish and mature release and readiness gates, first-article processes, and build documentation.
- Partner with Radar Systems and Hardware Engineering teams to industrialize new radar designs, ensuring manufacturability, testability, serviceability, configuration control, and production readiness.
- Partner with engineering NPI manufacturing team to improve manufacturability, DfX, and cost reduction opportunities.
- Ensure new radar products have validated build plans, test procedures, tooling, factory acceptance testing criteria, and supplier plans before production ramp.
- Create a functioning feedback system from manufacturing and sustainment back into product and engineering.
Quality, Reliability & Production
- Build and mature the quality management system required for high-reliability radar systems serving mission-critical customers.
- Establish clear standards for configuration control, traceability, inspection, nonconformance management, corrective action, supplier quality, and production acceptance.
- Drive measurable improvements in yield, first-pass quality, rework, scrap, field defects, and schedule performance.
- Build strong review mechanisms for failures, escapes, production risks, and systemic issues.
- Partner with Technical Program Management to align production readiness and execution with program, contract, customer, and deployment commitments
- Partner with Supply Chain on supplier readiness, long-lead planning, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.
- Partner with the Radar Operations Center and Global Infrastructure to turn field performance and maintenance data into product and process improvements to increase performance, reduce operational impacts, and decrease maintenance costs.
- Develop manufacturing KPIs and high-level dashboards for throughput, schedule metrics, yield, labor tracking, cost, quality, rework, scrap, supplier performance, and field reliability.
Team Leadership
- Establish and lead the LeoLabs Production System, creating a common operating model for safety, quality, delivery, cost and people. Implement tiered daily management, visual controls, standard work, structured problem solving, leader standard work, production flow, capacity management and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, develop, and lead a world-class manufacturing organization including manufacturing operations, production, test operations, quality, facilities, and related functions.
- Set clear ownership and metrics across the manufacturing organization.
- Build a culture of execution, urgency, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Required Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience in manufacturing, production operations, industrialization, factory operations, manufacturing engineering, or related operational leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience implementing and leading a mature Lean manufacturing or production operating system, such as the Toyota Production System, including standard work, visual management, daily accountability, structured problem solving, flow, built-in quality, waste reduction and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated experience scaling production capacity, standing up production lines or facilities, and improving throughput, quality, cost, and delivery performance.
- Experience manufacturing complex, high-reliability hardware in industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, advanced electronics, robotics, industrial automation, energy systems, RF systems, communications, space systems, or mission-critical infrastructure.
- Experience with quality management systems and standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, IPC standards, ESD controls, supplier quality, first-article inspection
- Strong technical fluency with hardware product development, NPI, configuration control, test operations, production readiness, and root-cause corrective action.
- Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain required U.S. security clearances, as applicable to this role.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, industrial engineering, supply chain, business, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Formal training or demonstrated practitioner experience in Toyota Production System, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma or an equivalent operating system. Black Belt, Master Black Belt, TPS practitioner/trainer or comparable credentials preferred.
- Experience developing greenfield or brownfield production facilities, production lines, integration sites, or manufacturing cells.
- Experience with radar, RF systems, antennas, communications systems, sensors, satellites, ground systems, aerospace systems, or other complex electromechanical products.
- Experience supporting Department of War, Space Force, NASA, or allied government customers.
- Experience working with classified, export-controlled, ITAR/EAR-controlled, or otherwise sensitive hardware programs.
- Master’s degree in engineering, operations, business administration, manufacturing, supply chain, or a related discipline.
Compensation
This position is benchmarked to San Francisco Bay Area with a base salary range of $225,000 - $248,000, plus bonus, equity, and benefits.
Compensation Note: The salary range for this position is benchmarked based on the designated primary work location for the role. Final compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s work location, applicable market data, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
Perks and Benefits
- Global workforce: flexible remote/hybrid opportunities
- Work on complex, meaningful missions with real-world impact
- Unlimited paid time off for most roles
- Competitive salary and equity packages
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
- Access to the forefront of commercial space operations and defense innovation
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the
U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC's website.
Pay: $225,000.00 - $248,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Menlo Park, CA 94025
See All 19 Head of Manufacturing Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head of Manufacturing JobsHead of Manufacturing Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of manufacturing jobs.
- 7-15 years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience
- Demonstrated expertise in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma
- Experience managing multi-shift production environments and hourly workforce teams
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations management, or a related technical discipline
- Proficiency with ERP systems and manufacturing execution system platforms
- Proven record of leading capital projects, capacity planning, and plant safety programs
Tips for Your Head of Manufacturing Job Search
Quantify output metrics on your resume
Hiring managers for head of manufacturing roles expect numbers tied to throughput, yield, downtime reduction, and cost savings. Replace vague claims like 'improved efficiency' with the actual production volumes, OEE percentages, or dollar figures you influenced directly.
Highlight cross-functional leadership experience
Head of manufacturing candidates often lose ground to peers who can show they coordinated quality, procurement, maintenance, and HR simultaneously. Name the functions you managed across and describe a decision that required buy-in from at least two of them.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists head of manufacturing openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by site complexity not just title
A head of manufacturing role at a 50-person job shop differs vastly from one running three shifts across two facilities. Filter by employee count, number of production lines, or union status in job descriptions to find openings that actually match your background.
Prepare a site-walk narrative for interviews
Many interviews for this level include a facility tour followed by questions about what you noticed. Practice walking through a floor observation out loud: what you would look for first, what leading indicators you would track, and what quick wins you would pursue in the first 90 days.
Negotiate total compensation beyond base pay
Head of manufacturing offers frequently include performance bonuses tied to production KPIs, relocation packages, and equity in private manufacturers. Ask specifically about how bonus targets are calculated and whether they were paid out in full in the prior two years before accepting.
Head of Manufacturing Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most head of manufacturings?
The companies hiring the most head of manufacturings right now include Anduril, Apparent, and EchoStar, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially concentrated in automotive, industrial equipment, and consumer packaged goods sectors.
How many head of manufacturing jobs are remote?
About 25% of head of manufacturing openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most plant leadership roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid flexibility are corporate manufacturing strategy, process engineering oversight, and multi-site network roles where travel substitutes for a fixed plant assignment.
How do you become a head of manufacturing?
Start with a technical degree in engineering or operations and move into supervisory roles on the production floor as early as possible. Progress through plant manager or operations manager positions where you own a full P&L or cost center. Build visible expertise in lean or continuous improvement, take on cross-functional projects involving quality or supply chain, and seek out multi-site or high-complexity assignments that demonstrate scalability.
Can you get a head of manufacturing job with limited senior leadership experience?
It is possible to step into a head of manufacturing role with limited senior experience if you have deep technical credibility and have led a full production shift or department through a measurable turnaround. Smaller manufacturers and private equity-backed facilities often promote strong plant managers into the head role earlier than large corporations. Closing the gap means owning a capital project end-to-end, volunteering for cross-site initiatives, and building a clear story around cost and output results.
What does the head of manufacturing interview process look like?
Most processes run three to five rounds. An initial screening with HR or a talent partner is followed by a structured behavioral interview with the VP of Operations or COO focused on leadership philosophy and past results. A facility tour with questions about what you observe is common at the mid-stage. Final rounds typically involve a panel with finance, HR, and supply chain leaders, and sometimes a presentation on a 90-day plan or a specific operational challenge the company is facing.
Where can I find and apply to head of manufacturing jobs?
You can find and apply to head of manufacturing jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your industry background, plant size experience, and geography, then apply directly to each listing that fits your profile.
See All 19 Head of Manufacturing Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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