Director of Manufacturing

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) Headquartered in Clarksburg, MD, is a U.S. company that has been serving domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for 60+ years. With over 1,000 employees, TDSI and its four subsidiaries (Advanced Acoustic Concepts, Digital Receiver Technology, Tampa Microwave, and Trusted Cyber Technologies), supports U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi-national partners with a variety of communication, visualization, signal intelligence/electronic warfare, and sensor/sonar capabilities. TDSI’s key technologies include tactical handheld radios, expeditionary satellite terminals, helmet-mounted displays, optics and target recognition capability, advanced radars, undersea sensing and missile systems. Lives depend on what we do! 

Top Benefits (Subject to terms of applicable policies/plans) 

• Competitive Salary 

• Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan  

• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members 

• Generous 401(k) program- up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave 

• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave 

• 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off) 

Position Summary

The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for leading all manufacturing operations across a complex aerospace and defense electronics production environment. This leader will drive operational excellence, Lean transformation, quality performance, delivery execution, workforce engagement, and cost competitiveness while ensuring compliance with aerospace, defense, and regulatory requirements.

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Director of Manufacturing will lead multiple manufacturing departments, overseeing high-mix, low-to-medium volume electronics manufacturing, assembly, test, integration, and repair operations. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated history of implementing Lean Manufacturing principles that produce measurable improvements in productivity, quality, throughput, inventory reduction, and operating margin.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Leadership

• Direct all manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with company growth, profitability, and customer commitments
• Lead production, test, diagnostics, RMA, stockroom/warehouse, and shipping
• Establish operational metrics, dashboards, and accountability systems to drive performance
• Ensure manufacturing capacity, staffing, and infrastructure support current and future business requirements

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Lead enterprise-wide Lean Manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement programs. 
• Develop a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement at all organizational levels.
• Deliver measurable improvements in:
• Productivity
• First-pass yield
• On-time delivery
• Inventory turns
• Cycle time reduction
• Labor efficiency
• Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
• Build internal Lean capability through coaching, training, and leadership development

Aerospace & Defense Compliance

• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements, including:
• AS9100
• ISO 9001
• ITAR
• FAR/DFARS requirements
• Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) expectations
• Partner closely with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management organizations to achieve operational excellence
• Support customer audits, regulatory audits, and supplier assessments

Financial & Operational Performance

• Manage manufacturing budgets, labor planning, capital expenditures, and operational costs
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through productivity gains, waste reduction, and process optimization
• Lead annual operating plans and strategic manufacturing roadmaps
• Support new product introductions and production readiness initiatives

Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop manufacturing managers, supervisors, and production leadership teams
• Build succession plans and organizational capabilities to support growth
• Foster a culture emphasizing accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous learning

Required Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• U.S. Citizenship required. - Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• Minimum 5+ years leading large-scale manufacturing operations in aerospace, defense, electronics, or other highly regulated industries
• Demonstrated leadership of manufacturing organizations exceeding 200 employees and/or multiple production facilities in multi-shift operations
• Proven experience managing complex electronics manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test operations

Lean Manufacturing Requirement 

Candidates must demonstrate a track record of delivering significant Lean Manufacturing results, including quantified examples such as:

• 20%+ productivity improvements
• 30%+ cycle time reductions
• Double-digit inventory reductions
• Significant improvements in first-pass yield and quality metrics
• Successful value stream transformations
• Multi-million-dollar cost savings through Lean initiatives
• The ideal candidate will be able to provide multiple examples of leading enterprise-scale Lean transformations that produced sustainable operational and financial results

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense programs and government contracts.
• Background in electronics manufacturing services (EMS), circuit card assembly (CCA), systems integration, RF/microwave products, avionics, communications systems, or defense electronics.

Key Competencies

• Lean Transformation Leadership
• Strategic Manufacturing Operations
• Continuous Improvement
• Financial Acumen
• Change Management
• Workforce Development
• Operational Excellence
• Quality Systems Leadership
• Executive Communication
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Cross-Functional Leadership

The annualized pay range for this role is $202,767.30 - $259,091.55 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 15%. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of the experience level for the role described above.  TDSI considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills. 

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact talent acquisition at careers@thalesdsi.com. 

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non-discrimination as applicable under federal, state and local laws. We are an E-Verify Employer. 

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., please call Human Resources at 240-864-7000. 

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