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Director of Manufacturing

Virginia, United States

About Armaments Research Company   

Armaments Research Company (ARC) is a technology company dedicated to bringing real-time situational awareness and battlefield logistics capabilities to the warfighter. You will be an integral part of the ARC team managing program execution in support of our innovative and powerful IoT devices to enhance national security.   

Our core offering is the ARC AI-Enabled Weapons Sensor (AEWS), which collects and transmits real-time tactical data to the cloud. This information enables battlefield/tactical awareness and aggregated insights into big data sets that do not exist today. ARC technologies were initially developed in partnership with DARPA and the National Science Foundation and leverage internet-of-things (IoT) technology and machine learning to derive actionable insights and transform operational responses. This novel technology will be deployed at scale to enhance safety, decision-making, and sustainment for the warfighter at the tactical edge. 

What You'll Do

ARC is seeking a Director of Manufacturing to lead the transition of our hardware products from engineering prototypes to reliable, scalable production. You will own the entire productization lifecycle—from design handoff through testing, build execution, and delivery. You will serve as the primary interface with our contract manufacturers, lead the development of factory test infrastructure, and build a disciplined, metrics-driven manufacturing function. The ideal candidate brings experience in new product introduction (NPI), small-batch builds, quality systems, and test development.  You are excited to be hands-on in a rapid startup environment. 

Role Responsibilities - How You Will Make an Impact

  • Serve as ARC’s lead for all manufacturing and production efforts, including factory readiness, yield, and test strategy
  • Own and manage relationships with contract manufacturers (CMs), including Enercon and future partners
  • Establish and implement in-line and end-of-line test strategies, including fixture development and failure triage processes
  • Define and execute build schedules, coordinating cross-functionally with engineering and product leadership
  • Track yield, fallout, and rework metrics; lead root cause analyses and corrective actions
  • Translate engineering designs into scalable, manufacturable processes, driving DFM and DFT improvements
  • Oversee BOM accuracy, configuration control, and build documentation in coordination with engineering
  • Recruit and lead a small internal team or network of contractors to support test, build, and sustaining engineering
  • Support early fielding efforts by coordinating pilot runs and ensuring devices meet functional and environmental requirements
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives across production and test processes 

Relevant Skills and Experience

  • 7+ years of experience in hardware manufacturing, operations, or new product introduction (NPI); consumer electronics experience a plus
  • Demonstrated success in launching electromechanical or embedded hardware products
  • Experience working directly with contract manufacturers (both U.S.-based and international experience preferred)
  • Strong working knowledge of test engineering, fixture development, and yield improvement strategies
  • Familiarity with mechanical and electrical tolerances, firmware validation, and product reliability
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with engineering and leadership teams
  • Proven ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment 

Bonus Points

  • Experience in defense, aerospace, or ruggedized embedded systems
  • Background in systems or manufacturing engineering
  • Familiarity with configuration management systems and quality frameworks
  • Track record of scaling from prototype builds to early-rate production 

This position will require access to restricted information and facilities protected under U.S. laws and regulations, including the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Please note that any offer for employment will be conditioned on any required authorization to receive access to such restricted information and facilities necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.  

Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S. Citizenship to meet federal government security screening requirements required for this role. The successful candidate must be a U.S. Citizen and otherwise eligible to obtain access to classified information and facilities necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.  

What We Offer:

Equity Options
401k plan
Employer paid employee medical, dental and vision

12 paid holidays plus Flexible PTO Policy 

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