Director Factory Operations

Job Summary:

Mercury Systems is seeking an experienced Director of Factory Operations to lead daily operations across our Torrance and Cypress, California manufacturing facilities. This role partners closely with cross‑functional teams to achieve both short‑ and long‑range operational goals. The Director is responsible for ensuring both sites meet customer, quality, delivery, and financial requirements while driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and a high‑performance culture.

In this role you will:

• Define goals, drive deliverables, and resolve operational challenges while leading cross‑functional teams representing manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, and engineering across both facilities.
• Develop operations plans, budgets, staffing strategies, and policies that support revenue and margin objectives for the Torrance and Cypress sites.
• Translate customer and program requirements into advanced manufacturing strategies and processes that ensure cost‑effective, high‑quality production.
• Maintain AS9100 processes, key operational metrics, IPC certifications, and all safety and regulatory compliance requirements for both locations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Meeting production requirements that support Mercury's revenue plan across both California factories.
• Ensuring daily manufacturing and production objectives are executed in a timely, cost‑effective, and quality‑focused manner.
• Maintaining standards for safety, product quality, delivery performance, and operational value.
• Driving the development and implementation of operating methods and procedures to eliminate bottlenecks, improve product quality, and increase efficiency.
• Optimizing factory performance through Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, and other continuous improvement methodologies to maximize productivity, capacity, and throughput while minimizing lead time and WIP.
• Building, developing, and mentoring a high‑performing operations team across both sites.
• Managing COGS through cost control, material usage efficiency, labor utilization, and quality performance.
• Overseeing the full product lifecycle within the factory environment, from NPI through full‑rate production.
• Measuring factory performance and driving continuous improvement through regular business reviews and performance assessments.
• Implementing daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs for manufacturing, production, and operations, including shop‑floor metrics that demonstrate efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
• Managing plans to avoid delivery and inventory issues and providing guidance on corrective actions.
• Establishing and controlling production conditions to meet customer, regulatory, and quality specifications.
• Participating in standardization efforts, cost‑reduction initiatives, and ERP/MRP system improvements, including digital transformation of operations.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in Aerospace, Defense, or high‑tech manufacturing environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of manufacturing experience, preferably in electronics or complex assemblies.
• Minimum 8+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and people‑leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Demonstrated expertise implementing Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use metrics to drive decision‑making.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Oracle preferred), MES systems, and digital operations initiatives.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence without direct authority.
• This is an on‑site leadership role supporting both Torrance, CA and Cypress, CA facilities. Regular presence at both locations is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt / Black Belt), operational excellence preferred
• Prior experience in defense / aerospace or similarly regulated industries preferred
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management; ability to articulate status, issues, risk to senior leadership
• Comfortable in high-pressure, fast-paced environments; adaptability & problem-solving mindset
• Advanced degree / Masters

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