| Location | Richmond, VA |
| Salary | $28–$29 |
Job Title: Production Lead – HVAC Manufacturing
Department: Operations / Production
Reports To: Production Manager / Operations Director
The Production Lead drives daily manufacturing operations on the shop floor, ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality assembly of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units and components. This position balances hands-on technical support with team coordination, guiding line operators, enforcing quality standards, and maintaining production schedules.
Line Supervision & Flow: Lead daily shift huddles, assign work stations, and manage workflow across sheet metal fabrication, coil assembly, wiring, and unit testing lines to hit daily output goals.
Safety & Compliance: Enforce OSHA standards, proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage, and ergonomic guidelines. Maintain clean, hazard-free work zones using 5S principles.
Quality Assurance: Ensure all assemblies comply with engineered drawings, UL standards, and internal quality metrics. Conduct first-piece inspections and lead immediate root-cause fixes when defects occur.
Technical Support: Troubleshoot line bottlenecks, minor mechanical or electrical sub-assembly issues, and equipment faults alongside maintenance teams.
Training & Onboarding: Train new operators on assembly blueprints, wiring schematics, hand/power tool operation, and safe refrigerant/brazing techniques.
Continuous Improvement: Partner with Manufacturing Engineers to identify process waste, reduce scrap rates, and implement Lean/Kaizen practices.
Experience: 3+ years in industrial manufacturing, with 1+ years in a team lead or supervisory role. Direct experience in HVAC, sheet metal, or electrical assembly is strongly preferred.
Education: High School Diploma or GED required. Vocational certification or associate degree in HVAC, industrial systems, or manufacturing engineering is a plus.
Technical Skills: Proficiency in reading complex engineering blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams. Hands-on experience with sheet metal fabrication tools, electrical wiring, or refrigeration loop assembly.
Certifications: EPA Universal Certification (Section 608) preferred or required within 90 days of hire. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or OSHA certifications are a benefit.
Physical Demands: Ability to stand and walk on the shop floor for 8+ hours, lift up to 50 lbs, and operate in a fast-paced industrial environment.
Strong interpersonal communication and conflict-resolution skills.
Basic computer literacy (ERP/MES systems for tracking production, inventory, and labor).
Solid problem-solving ability under tight production deadlines.