Production Manager - Defense

Production Manger | Oxygen Systems

Pennsauken, NJ · On-site

COMPANY PROFILE

This company is a global leader in parachute design and manufacturing, with a foundation of over 100 years designing, developing, and fabricating parachutes for military, space, and defense customers — including personnel and cargo parachute systems, GPS precision-guided cargo delivery, space and air vehicle recovery systems, and oxygen systems.

This company played a key role in the safe return of a NASA crewed spaceflight mission, whose eleven-parachute recovery system slowed the capsule to approximately 20 miles per hour at splashdown, and recently delivered a next-generation oxygen supply system upgrade for an international defense customer.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Production Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the oxygen systems production cell, supplying the oxygen sources military personnel need when jumping from high altitudes. This is a hands-on, floor-level leadership role at the company's Pennsauken, New Jersey facility, focused on team performance and on-time delivery, with strong potential for growth into broader site leadership over time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

     Lead day-to-day operations of the oxygen systems assembly cell, including scheduling, workload balancing, and overtime management.

     Own cell-level performance metrics, including direct labor, overtime, and on-time delivery, and drive consistent achievement against targets.

     Establish production priorities and allocate labor, materials, and equipment to meet delivery commitments, identifying risks and implementing recovery plans as needed.

     Coach, mentor, and develop the technician and engineering team; conduct performance reviews and manage day-to-day employee relations.

     Ensure compliance with clean-room, contamination-control, and quality procedures during assembly, pressurization, and testing.

     Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve production and technical issues.

     Build credibility with a long-tenured team by learning existing processes and relationships before driving change.

     Support periodic domestic travel for supplier visits, product testing, and customer meetings as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

     Military background strongly preferred, given the company's predominantly military customer base; prior service, including former junior military officers, is a significant plus.

     Some hands-on manufacturing or production leadership experience, industry-agnostic — aerospace or defense experience not required.

     Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions.

     High energy, self-directed, and results-oriented, comfortable driving outcomes without close daily oversight.

     Strong people leadership, coaching, and emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust with an established team before introducing change.

Preferred

     General business MBA is a plus.

     Experience in a regulated or process-driven manufacturing environment.

     Prior experience supervising production/manufacturing employees.

COMPENSATION

Base salary range of $140,000–$160,000. Relocation assistance may be available.