Director of Contract Manufacturing

About the Role Owns the manufacturing relationship between our organization and our precision machining supplier base. This role sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering, quality, and supply chain — and is critical to ensuring our machined components (chambers, housings, brackets, shafts, plates, and assemblies) are delivered on time, to print, and at cost. The ideal candidate has spent meaningful time on machine shop floors, understands what drives variation in CNC machining operations, and can translate that knowledge into supplier accountability and continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities Supplier Relationship & Factory Engagement Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation for an assigned portfolio of precision machining suppliers (CNC turning, milling, grinding, EDM, lapping, and related processes) Conduct regular on-site factory visits to assess shop floor operations, capacity utilization, tooling strategies, fixturing, and quality systems Build and maintain trusted working relationships with supplier ownership, operations managers, and lead machinists to enable proactive issue identification and resolution Lead Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews covering OTD, DPPM, capacity, and continuous improvement commitments Manufacturing Execution & Escalation Management Drive rapid resolution of non-conformances, dimensional escapes, surface finish rejections, and material certification discrepancies using structured problem-solving (8D, RCCA, CAPA) Manage containment actions and disposition of nonconforming parts in coordination with Supplier Quality and incoming inspection teams Coordinate supplier response to engineering change orders (ECOs), drawing revisions, tolerance updates, and first article inspection (FAI) requirements Monitor and hold suppliers accountable to key performance metrics: on-time delivery, dimensional yield, surface finish acceptance rate, and cost of poor quality (COPQ) Cross-Functional Leadership Partner with Mechanical Engineering to provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback, flagging features that drive scrap, cycle time, or supplier risk (tight tolerances, deep bores, thin walls, exotic materials) Collaborate with Commodity Management and Procurement on RFQ strategy, should cost modeling, and make-vs.-buy assessments for machined components Represent the supplier perspective in NPI design reviews, ensuring machinability is considered early in the product development cycle Interface with Supply Chain and Planning teams to align supplier capacity to demand signals and manage lead time risk Quality & Process Oversight Support First Article Inspection (FAI) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities for new programs and significant design changes Review and approve supplier control plans, inspection plans, and process capability studies (Cpk/Ppk) for critical-to-function features Drive GD&T literacy and proper metrology practices at supplier sites; validate that suppliers are measuring what matters with calibrated, appropriate tooling (CMM, surface profilometers, bore gauges, etc.) Champion use of SPC and in-process inspection at machining suppliers to shift quality left, reducing reliance on final inspection Technology & Continuous Improvement Identify opportunities to reduce unit cost, improve lead time, or increase process robustness through tooling improvements, fixturing investments, process parameter optimization, or supplier consolidation Facilitate value engineering workshops with suppliers and internal engineering to target cost reduction without compromising form, fit, or function Stay current on machining technology trends — advanced cutting tool materials, high speed machining, 5-axis capabilities, automation/lights-out machining — and identify opportunities to leverage them across the supply base Program & Risk Management Maintain supplier risk assessments covering single-source exposure, capacity constraints, equipment age, …

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