Manufacturing, Engineering Services

Factory Operations Manager

El Segundo, CAOnsiteFull TimeManager / Head$150,000–$220,000 /yrPosted 29 days agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

production operations
factory execution
production schedule
output
quality
delivery commitments
cadence
constraint identification
escalation
recovery planning

Nice to have

scaling production
prototype
low-rate production
higher-volume manufacturing
aerospace manufacturing
defense manufacturing

Role summary

CHAOS Industries, a defense technology company specializing in Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), is seeking a Factory Operations Manager for its Los Angeles headquarters. This role is responsible for the day-to-day execution of production operations, leading the factory supervisory team, and ensuring production commitments are met safely and efficiently. The manager will translate the production plan into daily factory activities, manage labor and priorities, and partner with cross-functional teams including Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering, Production Control, Quality, and Supply Chain. Key responsibilities include driving production cadence, managing workforce through supervisors, ensuring floor discipline, managing constraints, and establishing operating metrics to support production scaling. The ideal candidate has 7+ years of manufacturing experience, including 3+ years leading frontline production teams or supervisors, preferably in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware manufacturing. Experience with ERP/MRP, MES, and quality systems is required.

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

Own day-to-day execution of production operations within the CHAOS factory.

Lead the factory supervisory team and carry accountability for safely delivering production commitments across assembly, integration, test, and material flow.

Manage Factory Supervisors as the normal operating model — supervisors run technician execution; this role does not directly supervise individual technicians.

Translate the production plan into daily factory execution, balancing labor, priorities, constraints, and floor activity.

Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering, Production Control, Quality, and Supply Chain in a rapidly scaling production environment.

Responsibilities:

Daily Execution & Production Cadence

Own daily factory execution against the production schedule, output, quality, and delivery commitments.

Drive daily production cadence, including shift and start-of-day meetings, constraint identification, escalation, and recovery planning.

Maintain clear visibility into WIP, production status, blockers, labor capacity, and expected output.

Supervisory Leadership & Workforce Management

Lead and develop Factory Supervisors responsible for the technician workforce.

Coordinate technician staffing, shift coverage, work assignments, overtime, and movement of labor across production priorities.

Build a culture of urgency, accountability, safety, quality, and disciplined execution on the factory floor.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Partner with Production Control to translate the master production schedule and released work orders into executable floor priorities.

Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Production Engineering to ensure technicians execute approved build, integration, and test processes.

Partner with Quality to maintain workmanship standards, inspection discipline, nonconformance handling, and production record completeness.

Floor Discipline & Constraint Management

Ensure production areas maintain appropriate safety, organization, material control, tooling, and 5S standards.

Identify labor, equipment, material, process, or infrastructure constraints affecting factory output and drive resolution with the appropriate functional owners.

Metrics & Production Scaling

Establish and track factory operating metrics including throughput, schedule attainment, labor utilization, WIP aging, quality/yield, and rework.

Support production ramp planning, shift expansion, factory layout changes, and introduction of new production lines or products.

What This Role Owns:

The Factory Manager owns factory operations and execution: people, priorities, cadence, staffing, floor discipline, and delivery against the production plan. Span of control runs through the supervisory layer — the Factory Manager manages Factory Supervisors, and supervisors manage the technician workforce.

Manufacturing and Production Engineering retain ownership of technical processes, work instructions, tooling, test methods, manufacturing requirements, and process changes. Product and program owners establish product priorities and requirements; the Factory Manager determines how factory resources are deployed to execute those priorities.

Minimum Requirements:

7+ years of experience in manufacturing or production operations, including 3+ years leading frontline production teams or supervisors.

Experience operating in aerospace, defense, electronics, automotive, industrial equipment, or another complex hardware manufacturing environment.

Demonstrated experience managing production across assembly, integration, test, or similarly complex manufacturing operations.

Strong understanding of production scheduling, WIP management, capacity planning, labor planning, and constraint management.

Experience using ERP/MRP and manufacturing execution systems to manage production.

Working knowledge of quality systems, configuration control, nonconformance processes, and production documentation.

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and incomplete information.

Strong floor presence and willingness to spend significant time directly with production teams.

Demonstrated ability to hold teams accountable while developing strong frontline leaders.

U.S. Citizenship (if required for program access).

Preferred Requirements:

Experience scaling production from prototype or low-rate production into repeatable higher-volume manufacturing.

Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience.

Experience with IA9100/ISO 9001-aligned production environments.

Experience with electromechanical assembly, electronics integration, system-level test, or RF hardware.

Experience standing up new production lines, shifts, or manufacturing facilities.

Why CHAOS?

Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company

Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more

Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code

Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses

Team Growth: 350+ employees and counting across 5 global offices

Compensation Range: $150k to $220k per year

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

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