Head of Production | Aerospace Assembly & Test

(On-Site)

About the Role

A fast-growing defense manufacturer producing propulsion hardware for U.S. Department of Defense platforms is building out a new high-volume production facility. They are seeking a Head of Production to own the full assembly, integration, and test operation as the company scales. This is a hands-on execution leadership role — not a coordination role. The right candidate has personally run production floors, managed labor at scale, and driven test yield in regulated aerospace environments.

What You'll Own

• End-to-end assembly, integration, and test flow for precision aerospace hardware
• Daily, weekly, and monthly output targets — planning, sequencing, and recovery
• PAT/FAT/acceptance test performance, rework disposition, and root-cause resolution
• Staffing plans, shift models, training ramps, and technician headcount scaling
• Standard work, flow discipline, and production readiness for new configurations and rate increases
• EHS compliance consistent with aerospace manufacturing standards
• Cross-functional coordination with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (Master's preferred)
• Direct experience scaling or standing up a production operation — greenfield, restart, or sustained ramp
• Personal ownership of assembly/test operations and schedule recovery — not managed around it
• Experience operating under AS9100, DoD, or FAA regulatory frameworks
• Proven ability to lead technicians and supervisors in high-accountability environments
• U.S. Citizenship required



Preferred Background

• Safety-critical or precision aerospace hardware (propulsion, UAV, missile, or similar)
• High-mix assembly with acceptance testing requirements
• New production line or facility launches
• Leadership during ramp conditions, not just steady-state operations