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Development Manufacturing Manager 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.

Development Manufacturing Manager I:

Role Summary: 

The Development Manufacturing Manager I leads manufacturing execution for new product introduction (NPI), prototype, first-of-kind, and early production hardware across assigned Zone5 programs. 

This role is responsible for converting evolving engineering designs into safe, executable, and increasingly repeatable manufacturing processes across avionics/electrical and mechanical assembly. The Manager partners closely with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and Program Management to ensure hardware is buildable, resources are aligned, manufacturing risks are identified, and lessons learned are incorporated before transition to recurring production. 

This role owns development manufacturing execution and manufacturing readiness. It does not own systems engineering, systems integration, product design authority, verification/validation, or Flight Test. 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Lead manufacturing execution for prototype, development, first-of-kind, and early production builds across one or more programs. 
  • Develop build plans, staffing strategies, priorities, and resource requirements in support of program schedules. 
  • Lead manufacturing readiness activities covering material, tooling, work instructions, equipment, personnel, quality requirements, and production systems. 
  • Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly sequence, tooling, processes, and build documentation. 
  • Identify and escalate manufacturing constraints related to design maturity, material availability, quality, capacity, tooling, or workforce capability. 
  • Ensure manufacturing issues and lessons learned are documented and incorporated into future builds and production processes. 
  • Partner with Production and Value Stream leadership to support effective transition from development manufacturing into recurring production. 
  • Lead and develop Development Manufacturing Supervisors and assigned manufacturing personnel. 
  • Drive performance across safety, quality, schedule, first-pass yield, rework, build cycle time, material readiness, and manufacturing readiness. 
  • Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, urgency, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. 

Scope & Decision Authority 

The Development Manufacturing Manager I: 

  • Leads manufacturing execution across assigned development programs. 
  • Owns staffing and manufacturing resource allocation within assigned scope. 
  • Establishes development manufacturing priorities and execution cadence. 
  • Recommends tooling, equipment, workforce, and capability investments. 
  • Assesses manufacturing readiness and identifies conditions required before significant builds begin. 
  • Represents Development Manufacturing in cross-functional program planning and escalation. 

Required Qualifications: 

  • 6–10 years of experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, production, manufacturing engineering, NPI, or prototype manufacturing environments. 
  • 2–4 years of manufacturing or technical leadership experience. 
  • Experience supporting complex electromechanical products involving mechanical and/or avionics/electrical assembly. 
  • Demonstrated experience moving hardware from development or prototype builds toward repeatable production. 
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing planning, drawings, bills of material, work instructions, tooling, configuration changes, and production execution. 
  • Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and Program Management. 
  • Strong problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills in rapidly changing environments. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience. 
  • Experience with ERP and/or MES manufacturing systems. 
  • Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, DFM/DFA, and manufacturing readiness principles. 
  • Experience leading simultaneous development builds or multiple programs. 

Development Manufacturing Manager II:

Role Summary: 

The Development Manufacturing Manager II provides senior manufacturing leadership across Zone5’s NPI, prototype, first-of-kind, and early production portfolio. 

This role leads manufacturing execution and capability across multiple programs, platforms, or product families, ensuring Zone5 has the people, processes, tooling, capacity, infrastructure, and manufacturing discipline required to successfully transition new products into repeatable production. 

The Manager II operates at a broader organizational and portfolio level than the Manager I, balancing near-term program execution with longer-term manufacturing capability, capacity, investment, and production-readiness requirements across avionics/electrical and mechanical assembly. 

This role owns development manufacturing strategy, execution, readiness, and production transition. It does not own systems engineering, systems integration, product design authority, verification/validation, or Flight Test. 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Lead Development Manufacturing execution across multiple programs, platforms, or product families. 
  • Establish common NPI manufacturing practices for build readiness, execution, learning capture, and production transition. 
  • Balance manufacturing priorities, staffing, specialized resources, equipment, and capacity across competing programs. 
  • Develop workforce, tooling, equipment, facility, and manufacturing capability plans supporting future program demand. 
  • Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to improve manufacturability and ensure manufacturing risks are identified early in product development. 
  • Establish manufacturing-readiness expectations related to material, documentation, tooling, processes, workforce, quality, and production systems. 
  • Lead development-to-production transition strategy in partnership with Production and Value Stream leadership. 
  • Drive organizational learning by ensuring manufacturing lessons and recurring issues are transferred across programs. 
  • Lead and develop Development Manufacturing Managers, Supervisors, and senior manufacturing personnel. 
  • Provide senior leadership with clear assessments of manufacturing capacity, readiness, cost, schedule, quality, risk, and investment requirements. 
  • Drive portfolio-level performance across safety, quality, schedule, first-pass yield, rework, cycle time, capacity, material readiness, and production-transition effectiveness. 

Scope & Decision Authority 

The Development Manufacturing Manager II: 

  • Owns Development Manufacturing execution across a multi-program or portfolio scope. 
  • Establishes manufacturing operating standards and readiness expectations across programs. 
  • Allocates manufacturing resources and capacity based on business and program priorities. 
  • Owns organizational staffing and capability planning within assigned scope. 
  • Recommends and prioritizes significant tooling, equipment, infrastructure, and capital investments. 
  • Serves as the senior manufacturing escalation point for development programs. 
  • Influences program sequencing and production-transition decisions based on manufacturing readiness and capacity. 

Required Qualifications: 

  • 10–15+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, production, manufacturing engineering, NPI, or prototype manufacturing environments. 
  • 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including leadership of supervisors, managers, or complex technical/manufacturing organizations. 
  • Demonstrated experience leading multiple products or programs from development manufacturing toward repeatable production. 
  • Strong experience with complex electromechanical manufacturing involving mechanical and avionics/electrical hardware. 
  • Demonstrated ability to develop manufacturing capacity, workforce, infrastructure, or investment strategies. 
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing readiness, NPI, production ramp, capacity planning, manufacturing quality, and operational scaling. 
  • Proven ability to communicate manufacturing risks, tradeoffs, and investment requirements to Director/VP-level leadership. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related discipline required; equivalent directly applicable experience may be considered. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Significant aerospace or defense manufacturing experience. 
  • Experience leading multi-program or portfolio-level manufacturing organizations. 
  • Experience with ERP/MES systems, Lean manufacturing, DFM/DFA, structured problem solving, and manufacturing-readiness assessments. 
  • Experience developing business cases for manufacturing capital, infrastructure, automation, or capacity investments. 
  • Master’s degree or MBA. 

Manager I: $152,000 - $176,000

Manager II: $172,000 - $195,000

Pay range for this role

$152,000 - $195,000 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 
  • 3 weeks of paid time off each year
  • 40 hours of sick time
  • 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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