Production Manager

Position Overview

The Production Manager is responsible for leading all day-to-day shop operations, ensuring production execution aligns with safety goals budget targets, schedule, quality standards, and customer requirements. This role directly manages Shop Supervisors and indirectly leads all production personnel across assembly, fabrication, machining, paint, and shock assembly.

This is a hands-on leadership role that requires active presence on the floor-driving execution, removing bottlenecks, troubleshooting issues in real time, and ensuring teams are aligned and performing. The Production Manager is also responsible for production planning/scheduling, capacity management, and developing the leadership capability of front-line supervisors.

The Production Manager reports to the Chief Operating Officer and plays a critical role in scaling operations while maintaining safety, speed, quality, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Shop Supervisors, ensuring clear accountability, strong communication, and consistent execution across all production areas.
• Indirectly oversee all production personnel, including Mechanics, Fabricators/Welders, Shock Assembly Technicians, Machine Shop, and Paint teams.
• Own daily production execution-ensuring schedules are met, issues are addressed quickly, and priorities are clearly communicated.
• Actively troubleshoot production challenges on the floor, removing bottlenecks and driving resolution in real time.
• Develop, implement, and maintain production schedules and capacity plans aligned with program requirements.
• Drive accountability for production output, product quality, and on-time delivery
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Program Management and Supply Chain to align production priorities and resolve constraints .
• Establish and reinforce standard work, processes, and expectations across all shop functions.
• Lead workforce planning, hiring, and development for production teams, with a focus on building depth and bench strength.
• Coach and develop supervisors to improve leadership capability, decision-making, and ownership.
• Monitor key production metrics and use data to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure a strong culture of safety, quality, and operational discipline across the shop.
• Oversee facility and equipment needs, including maintenance planning and capital recommendations.

Skills and Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in manufacturing, operations management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in production management (5+ years), preferably in a Defense manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and experience implementing improvement initiatives.
• Strong familiarity with production planning and scheduling software, ERP systems, and other relevant tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Proven track record of achieving production targets and driving operational excellence.
• Experience in reporting on key production metrics.
• Knowledge of mechanical systems, engineering drawings, industry workings
• Working knowledge of business financials
• ISO 9000 (and/or other certification experience) would be highly advantageous.
• S. Citizenship is required. Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, if required for the position.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Moderate walking, standing, climbing, heavy lifting, carrying, stooping, bending, kneeling, and reaching, routinely lifting, and carrying parts and equipment 15-50 pounds.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

The MSI Operating Code

Every employee at MSI is expected to operate in accordance with the MSI Operating Code. These seven principles define how we think, decide, and execute. They are not aspirational. They are the working standard by which all employees are evaluated.

The Seven Principles

• Own It. If a problem touches your function, it is yours until it is solved or explicitly transferred. Do not wait. Do not delegate upward. Do not hide behind process. Ownership means driving to resolution, not monitoring status.
• Kill the Wrong Fight. Before optimizing a solution, question whether the problem is yours to solve. If an opportunity requires MSI to become something we are not, kill it fast. The discipline to say no is what protects our ability to say yes to the right things.
• Move Before You're Told. Speed is MSI's compounding advantage. We move when directionally correct and adjust in motion. Leaders who wait for permission are not leading. We would rather correct a fast decision than wait for a perfect one.
• Solve Before You Contract. Prove the integration works before formalizing the relationship. Capability first, paperwork follows. Working capability is the strongest negotiating position and the most honest form of business development.
• Integrate First. MSI's moat is not any single technology. It is the ability to integrate modular systems faster and more effectively than anyone else. Every decision should reinforce our position as the integration hub.
• Say It Now. Silence is not alignment. If you disagree, say so, with data, with reasoning, and with an alternative path. Passive execution is institutional risk.
• Build Beyond Yourself. If your function depends on your presence to operate, you have not built anything. Develop your people. Document your processes. Create depth that survives your absence.

How We Measure Leaders

• Ownership: Do they drive to resolution without being told?
• Velocity: Do they move at the speed the mission requires?
• Judgment Under Ambiguity: Can they make good decisions with incomplete information?
• Responsible Risk: Do they take calculated risks that create durable advantage?
• Institutional Depth: Can they develop people and systems that outlast their own tenure?

Benefits

• A collaborative and supportive work environment.
• The chance to make a significant impact on the success of the company's manufacturing operations.
• 401(k) with employer match
• Dental Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Parental and Maternity Leave
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off – 120 hours per year to start (prorated in first year of employment)
• Continuing Education
• Annual Year End Paid Holiday Closure

Classification

• Position is full-time, Exempt

MSI Defense Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.