Manufacturing Associate Jobs in Virginia
Manufacturing associate jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, with steady openings concentrated in defense manufacturing, food and beverage processing, semiconductor fabrication, and industrial equipment production across entry-level through senior production roles. The busiest hiring markets are the Richmond metro, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia, where established employers like Northrop Grumman, Smithfield Foods, and Micron Technology maintain large production operations. Assembly, quality control inspection, and process technician work are the most consistently posted specialties in Virginia listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient’s mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.
As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered and recognised.
What You Can Expect
Aid and assist supervisor in establishing and maintaining a productive and efficient departmental operation through the movement of personnel to cover gaps in production process. Responsible for the identification of resources and materials needed to meet daily production standards. With supervisor approval can move materials equipment and people in order meet production targets.
How You'll Create Impact
- Must be able to perform Production activities (including set-ups and changeovers) for at least a portion of assigned shift
- Provide direction to employees in assigned areas.
- Communicate between shifts on issues related to production needs; arrive at least 15 minutes prior to shift start.
- Develop, lead and direct continuous improvement projects.
- Identify personnel related issues in department and where possible, move personnel to meet business requirements, otherwise, communicate with Supervisor to address matter.
- Monitor lean manufacturing product flows and reallocate of resources as needed.
- Perform spot quality checks, 5S audits, Layered Process Audits
- Champion Key Performance Indicators and 5S activities in area.
- Turn in maintenance work orders
- Assigned work as delegated by supervisor.
- Train and direct employees to meet production, GMP, and safety standards.
- Call and lead meetings
- Ensure team members are up to date and trained to perform assigned functions.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and might not necessarily comprise all of the essential functions for purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Knowledge of all relevant machinery, tooling, measuring, and gauging equipment and use of proper handling methods in assigned areas. Thorough understanding of production processes in area.
- Knowledge of proper set-ups for machinery, blue-prints, routers, and set-up files.
- Adequate knowledge of parts required to produce quality assembly per functional and cosmetic requirements.
- Strong verbal communication skills with ability to interact effectively with all levels of employees including production employees, management, and technical professionals
- Understanding of lean mfg concepts and objectives.
- Ability to lead and train people. Includes time spent each month with Value Stream Leadership to enhance leadership skills
- Ability to follow instructions from Supervisor
- Must be able to meet all technical and physical requirements of primary job function
- Understands Zimmer Biomet’s Quality System including strong familiarity with Measurement Instruction Sheet layout and purpose, and Zimmer Biomet’s Compliance Policies
- Advocate of Zimmer Biomet’s core values and behaviors
Your Background
- High School Diploma or GED, A thorough technical understanding of functional discipline is required, which may require advanced training or education as relevant.
- Minimum 5 years related experience required.
- Lean manufacturing training is preferred.
Travel Expectations
- Up to 5%
EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability
At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient’s mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.
As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered and recognised.
What You Can Expect
Aid and assist supervisor in establishing and maintaining a productive and efficient departmental operation through the movement of personnel to cover gaps in production process. Responsible for the identification of resources and materials needed to meet daily production standards. With supervisor approval can move materials equipment and people in order meet production targets.
How You'll Create Impact
- Must be able to perform Production activities (including set-ups and changeovers) for at least a portion of assigned shift
- Provide direction to employees in assigned areas.
- Communicate between shifts on issues related to production needs; arrive at least 15 minutes prior to shift start.
- Develop, lead and direct continuous improvement projects.
- Identify personnel related issues in department and where possible, move personnel to meet business requirements, otherwise, communicate with Supervisor to address matter.
- Monitor lean manufacturing product flows and reallocate of resources as needed.
- Perform spot quality checks, 5S audits, Layered Process Audits
- Champion Key Performance Indicators and 5S activities in area.
- Turn in maintenance work orders
- Assigned work as delegated by supervisor.
- Train and direct employees to meet production, GMP, and safety standards.
- Call and lead meetings
- Ensure team members are up to date and trained to perform assigned functions.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and might not necessarily comprise all of the essential functions for purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Knowledge of all relevant machinery, tooling, measuring, and gauging equipment and use of proper handling methods in assigned areas. Thorough understanding of production processes in area.
- Knowledge of proper set-ups for machinery, blue-prints, routers, and set-up files.
- Adequate knowledge of parts required to produce quality assembly per functional and cosmetic requirements.
- Strong verbal communication skills with ability to interact effectively with all levels of employees including production employees, management, and technical professionals
- Understanding of lean mfg concepts and objectives.
- Ability to lead and train people. Includes time spent each month with Value Stream Leadership to enhance leadership skills
- Ability to follow instructions from Supervisor
- Must be able to meet all technical and physical requirements of primary job function
- Understands Zimmer Biomet’s Quality System including strong familiarity with Measurement Instruction Sheet layout and purpose, and Zimmer Biomet’s Compliance Policies
- Advocate of Zimmer Biomet’s core values and behaviors
Your Background
- High School Diploma or GED, A thorough technical understanding of functional discipline is required, which may require advanced training or education as relevant.
- Minimum 5 years related experience required.
- Lean manufacturing training is preferred.
Travel Expectations
- Up to 5%
EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability
See All 13 Manufacturing Associate Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Manufacturing Associate JobsManufacturing Associate Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Manufacturing Associate Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in manufacturing associate jobs across Virginia.
- High school diploma or GED required by most Virginia manufacturing employers
- Demonstrated experience with production line assembly or machine operation preferred
- Familiarity with quality control standards such as ISO 9001 or Six Sigma basics
- Ability to read blueprints, work orders, and basic technical documentation
- Forklift certification or materials handling experience valued across Virginia facilities
- Availability for rotating or extended shifts common in Virginia continuous-operation plants
Manufacturing Associate Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a manufacturing associate in Virginia?
Most Virginia employers hire manufacturing associates with a high school diploma or GED plus on-the-job training. There is no state-issued license required for the general role, but specific plant environments such as food processing may require a food handler certification through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Candidates who complete a manufacturing technology or industrial trades program at a Virginia community college, such as those offered through the Virginia Community College System, are prioritized by many larger facilities.
Which companies hire manufacturing associates in Virginia?
Employers hiring manufacturing associates in Virginia right now include ICP, Marvin Composites, and Altria, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's mix of defense contractors, food processors, and semiconductor manufacturers means openings exist across a wide range of production environments and shift structures.
Which Virginia cities have the most manufacturing associate jobs?
The Virginia cities with the most manufacturing associate openings are Salem, Lynchburg, and Galax. The distribution reflects Richmond's dense concentration of food, chemical, and consumer goods facilities, Hampton Roads' defense and shipbuilding industry anchored by major contractors, and Northern Virginia's growing semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturing presence tied to recent large-scale plant investments in the region.
Are there remote manufacturing associate jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. Manufacturing associate work is fundamentally hands-on and requires physical presence on a production floor or in a facility. About 0% of manufacturing associate openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those postings typically cover administrative production coordination or quality documentation review rather than direct assembly or machine operation work.
How can I get hired as a manufacturing associate in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to temp-to-hire positions through Virginia-based staffing firms that partner with large manufacturers, as these roles convert to full-time without requiring prior experience. Facilities operated by food processors in the Shenandoah Valley and defense suppliers near Hampton Roads commonly run structured new-hire training programs. Completing a certificate in manufacturing technology at a Virginia Community College System school, or transitioning from a warehouse associate or material handler role, gives candidates a concrete edge when applying to production floor positions.
Where can I find and apply to manufacturing associate jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to manufacturing associate jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly through the listings.
See All 13 Manufacturing Associate Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Manufacturing Associate Jobs