Precision Machining Operations Director

A day in this role

It’s 7:00 a.m. in Westminster, MD 21157. You review the day’s build schedule, align machinists to programs across 3–5 axis mills and lathes, and coordinate with engineering to shave minutes off a complex setup. By mid-morning, you’ve walked the floor, coached a technician through a CMM check, greenlit a process tweak to improve surface finish, and confirmed preventive maintenance on a high-use VMC. Afternoon brings KPI reviews, updates to production plans in the ERP/MRP system, and one-on-ones focused on safety, quality, and skills growth. You end the day with a crisp snapshot of output, quality trends, and readiness for tomorrow.

What you will lead

• End-to-end oversight of machine shop scheduling, workflow balance, and resource allocation.
• Hands-on leadership for machinists and technicians—mentoring, coaching, and building a positive, productive culture.
• Uncompromising adherence to safety practices and a clean, hazard-free environment.
• Quality ownership—monitor, audit, and drive continual improvement to meet exacting customer specs.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and production to optimize processes and compress lead times.
• Equipment stewardship—maximize uptime through maintenance planning and routine checks.
• Reporting on production metrics, team performance, and asset health to inform decisions.
• Structured onboarding and ongoing training programs for new and experienced teammates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred; in lieu of a degree, at least 5 years of supervisory/management experience in a machine shop is required.
• Deep knowledge of machining processes, tooling, and equipment.
• Proven team leadership and people-development skills.
• Ability to read/interpret technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong problem solving, attention to detail, and clear written/verbal communication.
• Fluency with software used for manufacturing and production management.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and quality standards.

Core proficiencies

• Bachelor's Degree
• CNC Programming
• CNC Machine Installation
• Production Optimization
• ISO 9001 Certification Experience
• Operational Metrics & KPI Management
• Operational Risk Management
• ERP & MRP Systems
• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Scheduling Experience
• Aerospace Manufacturing
• AS9100 Experience

Machines & technologies you'll work with

• CNC Mill (3-4 axis VMC) (Fanuc, Mazak, Haas)
• 3D Modeling (Solidworks)
• 2D Drawings (Solidworks)
• CNC Lathe (2-4 axis) (Mazak, Haas)
• CAD Software (Solidworks)
• ERP Software
• Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) (Zeiss)
• CAM Software (Mastercam, Mazatrol)
• CNC Mill (5+ axis VMC) (Matsuura)
• CNC Lathe (5+ axis) (Mazak)
• Universal Machining Center (5 axis UMC)
• Calipers and Micrometers
• Horizontal Machining Center (3-4 axis) (Haas)
• Horizontal Machining Center (5+ axis)

If leading a high-performance shop and elevating quality and throughput energize you, we’d love to talk.