Director of Operations - Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing

Director of Operations – Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing | Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$145,000 – $170,000 per year + performance bonus · Relocation assistance available

A profitable and growing privately held aerospace and defense manufacturer in Phoenix, AZ is seeking a Director of Operations. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this role owns production performance — using data to identify trends, drive accountability, and fix problems before they affect delivery or margin. There is a clear succession path to General Manager and P&L ownership for the right candidate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Own production performance across a single-shift manufacturing floor of fewer than 100 employees

- Build, track, and present KPIs — scrap, on-time delivery, margins, and productivity — with a focus on trend identification and root cause analysis

- Translate production data into actionable decisions; identify inefficiencies and lead targeted corrective actions

- Present performance results and improvement plans to senior leadership and the CEO on a monthly basis

- Drive lean and continuous improvement initiatives grounded in data

- Proactively surface and address production risk before it impacts customers or backlog

- Act as operational lead in the absence of the General Manager

QUALIFICATIONS

- Background in aerospace or precision defense manufacturing — familiarity with the compliance, pace, and quality standards this industry demands

- Strong data and analytics orientation: comfortable building and interpreting production metrics, identifying trends, and driving decisions from numbers

- Demonstrated track record of diagnosing and resolving production performance issues

- P&L literacy and comfort presenting financial and operational results to senior leadership

- Collaborative leader with the ability to hold a tenured, skilled team to a high standard

- NadCap, AS9100, Lean/CI, or defense program experience a plus

- Supply chain or planning background a plus, but not required

To apply, submit your resume through Indeed or contact us directly at Chris@skylimit-systems.com

Pay: $145,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person