Manufacturing Operations Manager

Who We Are At nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made. Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR). The Manufacturing Operations Manager leads day-to-day production operations for the manufacturing organization, including work performed on the clean room floor. This role is responsible for building, managing and retaining a safe, high-performing team; meeting safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity goals; and driving continuous improvement through strong execution, workforce development, and cross-functional partnership. Responsibilities: Owns key manufacturing performance metrics, including safety, quality, delivery, productivity, yield, inventory accuracy, labor efficiency, cost, revenue attainment, on-time delivery, and lead time. Uses daily management practices, including tiered accountability meetings, KPI reviews, visual management tools, metric reporting, and escalation processes, to improve performance and resolve issues quickly. Ensures manufacturing operations meet defense customer requirements, contractual obligations, quality management system standards, export control regulations, and company policies. Maintains product traceability, configuration control, material accountability, and documentation standards required for defense and government programs. Leads change initiatives that support new processes, technologies, facility layouts, and operating models. Provides leadership and direction for new and existing products in partnership with senior management and cross-functional teams. Identifies and addresses bottlenecks, staffing needs, and capacity constraints to support cost-effective production capability. Leads supervisors, leads, technicians, and specialists to achieve quality, yield, delivery, cost, and cycle-time goals. Promotes a safe work environment by reinforcing safety expectations, supporting incident investigations, and modeling safe behaviors. Coaches, trains, recognizes, and develops employees to build team capability and achieve business results. Reviews and approves employee time and attendance records in compliance with applicable wage and hour laws. Drives continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, structured problem solving, and visual management tools to improve performance and reduce waste. Partners with R&D, supply chain and quality teams to improve process efficiency, product yield, and manufacturability. Supports new product introductions and manufacturing transfers by ensuring personnel, equipment, processes, documentation, and capacity are ready for production. Develops supervisors, leads, and emerging leaders through succession planning and career development. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related discipline preferred. 5+ years of high-tech manufacturing experience, including 3+ years in a manufacturing leadership role and experience supporting defense, aerospace, military, government, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments. Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, export-controlled technologies, and controlled technical data requirements. Hands-on experience applying lean manufacturing tools such as material pull/kanban, visual management, one-piece flow, value-stream mapping, and 5S. Strong leadership, mentoring, and team-building skills. Ability to work successfully with minimal direction. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively with diverse teams. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Advanced Microsoft Office skills. Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred. Work Environment: This role operates i…

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