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Production Supervisor I/II

San Luis Obispo, California

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.

We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.

Production Supervisor I

Role Summary

The Production Supervisor I is responsible for daily execution and frontline people leadership within an assigned manufacturing area. This role ensures work is performed safely, to standard, on schedule, and with high quality, while developing team capability and maintaining operational discipline.

 

Production Supervisors are expected to spend the majority of their time leading and coordinating work, with limited hands-on production involvement (approximately up to 50%) as needed to:

  • Support training and skill development
  • Address short-term execution gaps
  • Assist during abnormal or recovery situations

Hands-on work is intentional and situational, not the default mode of operation.

 

This role involves working closely with manufacturing managers, various engineering disciplines, production staff, and operations teams to support expected outcomes.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Daily Execution & Floor Leadership

  • Own day-to-day execution for the assigned area, shift, or line
  • Translate production plans and priorities into clear daily direction
  • Coordinate labor, sequence work, and manage shift execution
  • Monitor progress throughout the shift and take corrective action as needed
  • Escalate risks early and with facts when targets are at risk

Hands-On Support (As Needed)

  • Provide hands-on support during:
    • Training and onboarding
    • Short-term staffing gaps
    • Complex or critical build steps
    • Recovery from quality or schedule disruptions
  • Model correct workmanship, safety, and standard work
  • Avoid becoming a permanent production resource

Expectation: Supervisors step in to stabilize and teach — not to carry routine production load.

People Leadership & Accountability

  • Directly manage floor team members, including attendance, performance, and conduct
  • Set clear expectations and provide regular coaching and feedback
  • Support training and skill development in coordination with Manufacturing Manager
  • Foster a culture of accountability, respect, and teamwork
  • Address performance issues promptly and professionally

Safety, Quality & Compliance

  • Own safety execution within the assigned area
  • Enforce compliance with AS9100, ITAR, and internal procedures
  • Serve as first-line quality gate for workmanship and process adherence
  • Ensure proper containment and escalation of quality issues
  • Participate in audits and corrective action activities as required

Communication & Coordination

  • Communicate priorities, risks, and status clearly to Manufacturing Managers
  • Participate in daily production meetings and execution reviews
  • Execute Value Stream priorities through established channels
  • Coordinate with Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering as required

Continuous Improvement & Discipline

  • Reinforce standard work, 5S, and visual management
  • Identify improvement opportunities and support Kaizen or problem-solving activities
  • Balance short-term execution needs with long-term process discipline

 

Required Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
  • 3+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing
  • Prior experience as a team lead, lead technician, or informal frontline leader
  • Strong understanding of:
    • Manufacturing execution
    • Quality and workmanship standards
    • Safety practices in regulated environments
  • Ability to balance hands-on support with people leadership responsibilities
  • Strong communication, organization, and conflict-resolution skills
  • Working knowledge of ERP/MRP or production tracking systems
  • U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance if required

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience supporting end-item UAV assembly or complex electromechanical builds
  • Exposure to Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving
  • Prior responsibility for shift leadership or area ownership



 

Production Supervisor II, Specialty Manufacturing

Role Summary

The Production Supervisor II is responsible for daily execution, frontline leadership, and technical oversight within a specialized manufacturing environment such as Avionics, Machining, Advanced Composites, or other high-complexity production areas.

 

In addition to standard floor leadership, this role is expected to bring domain-specific manufacturing expertise and serve as the primary execution authority for complex processes, quality standards, and technical problem-solving within their area.

 

Production Supervisors II operate with greater autonomy, manage higher-risk operations, and are accountable for both people performance and technical execution quality.

Hands-on involvement is typically lower than Supervisor I (generally <30%) and focused on:

  • Technical coaching
  • Complex troubleshooting
  • Process validation
  • Abnormal recovery situations

This role bridges the gap between frontline execution and manufacturing engineering.

 

This role involves working closely with manufacturing managers, various engineering disciplines, production staff, and operations teams to support expected outcomes.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Specialty Execution & Technical Leadership

  • Own daily execution for a technically complex production area
    • Serve as subject-matter leader for area-specific processes
    • Validate critical build steps and sign off on high-risk operations
    • Interpret engineering documentation (drawings, schematics, routings, work instructions) and translate into executable floor guidance
    • Lead technical troubleshooting for:
  • Avionics integration issues
  • Machining process deviations
  • Tooling or fixture problems
  • Test failures or nonconformances
    • Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering to:
    • Refine processes
    • Improve yields
    • Support NPI or design changes

Daily Execution & Floor Leadership

  • Own day-to-day execution for the assigned area, shift, or line
  • Translate production plans and priorities into clear daily direction
  • Coordinate labor, sequence work, and manage shift execution
  • Monitor progress throughout the shift and take corrective action as needed
  • Escalate risks early and with facts when targets are at risk

Hands-On Support (As Needed)

  • Provide hands-on support during:
    • Training and onboarding
    • Short-term staffing gaps
    • Complex or critical build steps
    • Recovery from quality or schedule disruptions
  • Model correct workmanship, safety, and standard work
  • Avoid becoming a permanent production resource

Expectation: Supervisors step in to stabilize and teach — not to carry routine production load.

People Leadership (Advanced)

  • Directly manage skilled technicians and specialists
    • Develop senior technicians into leads or future supervisors
    • Set technical competency expectations by role level
    • Own cross-training strategy for critical skills
    • Manage performance in environments where mistakes have high cost or risk

Safety, Quality & Compliance (Elevated Accountability)

  • Own quality execution for specialized operations
    • Ensure strict adherence to:
  • AS9100
  • IPC / J-STD (for avionics)
  • GD&T / inspection standards (for machining)
    • Act as first escalation for:
  • NCRs
  • MRB inputs
  • Root cause investigations
    • Validate corrective actions and ensure sustained process compliance
    • Participate in audits as area technical representative

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Act as the execution interface between:
  • Engineering
  • Quality
  • Supply Chain
  • Program / Value Stream leadership
    • Provide data-driven status, risks, and recovery plans
    • Lead technical standups and execution reviews

Continuous Improvement (Technical Focus)

  • Lead Kaizen efforts tied to:
  • Process capability
  • Scrap reduction
  • Throughput improvement
    • Implement visual controls and process metrics
    • Support automation, tooling upgrades, and workflow redesign

 

Required Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s strongly preferred)
  • 6+ years in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing
  • 2+ years in formal supervisory or technical lead role
  • Demonstrated expertise in at least one specialty domain:
    • Avionics integration / harness / test
    • CNC machining / fabrication
    • Composites / advanced assembly
  • Strong ability to read and interpret:
    • Engineering drawings
    • Schematics
    • Process specifications
  • Proven track record managing skilled technical teams
  • Comfortable owning high-risk production areas
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making under pressure
  • Strong communication, organization, and conflict-resolution skills
  • Working knowledge of ERP/MRP or production tracking systems
  • U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance if required

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Prior ownership of:
    • Avionics production cell
    • Machining department
    • Test or integration area
  • Experience supporting:
    • First article inspections
    • MRB processes
    • NPI or rapid scale programs
    • Lean / Six Sigma / structured CI training
    • Mentorship or leadership development experience

Pay range for this role

$75,000 - $120,000 USD

What's in it for you:

Benefits: 

  • Competitive total compensation package 
  • Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
  • 401k with company-match 
  • 4 weeks of paid time off each year
  • 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

  • Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.
  • Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
  • Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

If you are passionate about unmanned aircraft technology and want to be a part of a dynamic and growing company, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and join the Zone 5 Technologies team! 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov.

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