Engineering Jobs in Towaco New Jersey
43 positions found
R&D Scientist II – Materials / Polymer Focus (Lab-Based) - 626501
Location: Franklin Lakes, NJ (Onsite – 5 days/week)
Duration: 12-month contract (W2)
Pay Rate: ~$35.75 - $37.75/hr.
Overview
We are seeking a junior-level R&D Scientist II to join a Specimen Management R&D team, supporting the development of blood collection devices (e.g., tubes, needles, plastic components).
This role is highly lab-focused (≈50%+ hands-on testing) and ideal for candidates with a background in materials science, polymer chemistry, or chemical engineering who enjoy bench work and experimental testing.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct material characterization and testing, including:
- FTIR, DSC, TGA, rheology, and mechanical testing
- Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) and Thermal Cycle Analysis (TCA)
- Design and execute lab experiments and test protocols
- Perform root cause investigations related to material and product failures
- Support material selection, qualification, and vendor/material changes
- Prepare samples and prototypes for internal and external testing
- Document results and provide data-driven recommendations
- Assist with small-scale material assessments and innovation efforts
- Maintain lab equipment and follow Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, etc.)
- Support testing involving human blood samples (training and PPE provided)
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in: Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- 2+ years of laboratory experience (industry or academic)
- Hands-on experience with materials testing and characterization
- Strong interest in polymer/material science (non-metal/ceramic focus)
- Comfortable working in a lab-heavy, hands-on role
- Basic knowledge of statistical tools (Excel, Minitab, etc.)
- Ability to conduct independent research and literature reviews
Preferred Qualifications
- Polymers or plastic materials (especially for medical devices)
- Material formulation or modification
- ESC, TCA, or similar testing methods
- Exposure to analytical chemistry techniques
- Experience working with biological materials or blood samples
- Background in tissue engineering or DNA-related work (nice-to-have)
Work Environment & Expectations
- 50%+ lab-based work (testing, characterization, experimentation)
- Remaining time focused on analysis, reporting, and innovation projects
- Fully onsite role (no remote option)
- No travel required
- Dynamic, fast-paced R&D environment
- Opportunity for long-term growth
Interview Process
- Initial screening with Hiring Manager
- Follow-up panel interview with project team (virtual via Teams)
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Early-career scientist with a strong materials/polymer background
- Curious, hands-on, and eager to learn
- Comfortable working independently in a lab setting
- Interested in medical device R&D and material innovation
Quality Control Inspector III/ CMM Programmer
Overview:
The Quality Control Inspector/Programmer is responsible for visual and dimensional inspections on manufactured parts, assemblies, and/or sub-assemblies. This role inspects parts to engineering drawings, customer purchase order(s), work orders, industry standards, and specifications. The inspector may report detailed inspection accept / reject information directly to the customer with shipments.
Minimum Required Qualifications :
- Technical school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum 5-7 years' experience with Mechanical / Electronic part inspection in a manufacturing or production Environment.
- Experience in quality with machined / mechanical parts using GD&T interpretation, able to do programs for automatic inspection with Optical Vision Systems and CMMs. plus. Able to use Profilometers and special Microscopes for visual characteristics with other measuring tools and instruments.
- Knowledgeable with AS9102 FAIR (First Article Inspection Report) documentation and Inspection.
- Familiar with AQL, sampling methods and traceability.
- Strong verbal/written communication skills required for multi-faceted interactions with all levels of personnel within the organization, as well as any and all outside agents, including but not limited to; vendors, suppliers, customers, etc.
- Strong computer literacy, with MS Office/PC expertise and demonstrated experience with applicable systems, programs, equipment, etc.
- Must be a US Citizen.
Essential or Primary / Key Responsibilities :
- Train other inspection personnel on CMM software and manual measurement techniques.
- Perform Mechanical measurements and visual quality assessments of received items, work-in-progress and finished goods.
- Performs 1 st Piece Inspection on machined parts and inspection for product Quality Analysis.
- Inspect with thread gages, GO/NO-GO plug gages, V-Blocks, Gage Blocks, height stands, dial indicators, various types of ID/OD micrometers, inspection of thread Pitch Diameter with special gages.
- Generate spreadsheets for data collection, evaluate history of product and recommend on Sample Size as per an AQL
- Reconcile final inspection documentation for shipments
- Interact with source inspector as needed and part-take in source inspection duties if necessary.
- Read, understand and interpret Mechanical/Electronic drawings.
- Approve incoming materials by confirming specifications, conducting visual and physical measurement of the product., rejecting if necessary and processing part thru to the next step.
- Approve in-process production by confirming specifications, conducting visual, physical measurement and physical measurement of the product., communicating required adjustments to production supervisor.
- Approve finished products by confirming specifications, conducting visual and physical measurement of the product.
- Document inspection results by completing reports and logs, summarizing re-work and waste, and inputting data into quality database
- Always verify equipment is operational and calibrated, follow operating instructions and coordinate repairs
- Work with Engineering, Operations, and other sources to resolve issues and meet goals
Additional Duties / Responsibilities :
- Bring initiatives and activities to closure in a timely manner through effective interaction with individuals, both internal and external to the Marotta organization (as required).
- Maintain and continue to elevate relationships with Business Development, Engineering, Operations, Customer Service and all other facets of the company
- Abide by all safety, quality, housekeeping and company policies/procedures to ensure compliance to various regulatory and internal system requirements
- Contribute to a positive and cooperative work environment through effective communication at all levels internal and external to the organization
- Actively participate in team meetings, improvement initiatives/programs, etc. to provide constructive recommendations and initiate actions to support company initiatives/goals
- Consistently demonstrate commitment to company values
- Keep management informed of area activities and of any significant problems
- Assume responsibility for related duties as required or assigned
- Ensure that work area and work areas of direct reports are clean, secure, and well maintained
- Complete special projects and miscellaneous assignments as required
Work Environment :
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee can be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment may be loud.
- This job interacts both in a professional office environment and a manufacturing/machine shop environment. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines, as well as environments inclusive of the appropriate eye, hearing and foot protection (as required).
- This is a full-time position. Overtime and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
- Travel is rare but may be required to coordinate proper CMM inspection techniques with Suppliers.
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Physical Requirements :
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Vision and color vision must pass job-required vision screening
- The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch
The employee may be required to lift and/or move items weighing up to 25 pounds.
This position is at our Montville, NJ office location.
Pay Range: $30.50 - $38.00/hour
Many of our contracts require proof that you are a U.S. citizen and/or that an export license has been obtained for employees who are citizens of certain countries. Your employment, both initially and continually thereafter, is conditioned on production of such proof of citizenship and/or any export license that may be required to comply with any and all applicable laws, regulations, or executive orders, or required by Federal, State, or local government contracts.
At Marotta Controls, we are committed to a fair, performance-driven compensation approach that promotes consistency across all levels of our organization. We ensure that pay decisions are free from bias, based on objective criteria, and are regularly reviewed.
Your level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, experience, and internal consistency.
Additionally, we offer a highly competitive compensation package for this opportunity, including incentive compensation and a comprehensive suite of premium benefits. These include medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with company match, tuition assistance, paid vacation, sick and personal days, paid holidays, and flexible scheduling options such as compressed workweeks. We value and reward employee achievements and host multiple engagement events each quarter to foster a strong, supportive workplace culture.
If you are looking to grow or accelerate your career and be part of a best in class organization while enjoying a work-life balance, please visit our website at to learn more about us and to apply. Check out all of our openings at ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
No agencies, please.
Pay Range: $30.50 - $38.00 per hour
Position: Senior Semantic Engineer / Ontology Engineer
Location: East Hanover, NJ (Hybrid - 3x/week onsite)
Duration: 6 Months (extendable)
DESCRIPTION:
We are hiring a Senior Semantic Engineer / Ontology Engineer to lead the design of healthcare-grade ontologies and semantic layers that power trusted analytics, interoperable data products, and AI-ready knowledge systems. You will apply metrics-first semantic modeling and ontology engineering practices aligned to the principles such as clear semantics, reusable meaning, governance-by-design, and measurable business outcomes. You'll work across RDF and property graph paradigms and Snowflake semantic layer.
Key Responsibilities:
• Design and evolve healthcare ontologies and semantic models to standardize meaning across domains (clinical, patient, provider, claims, access, quality, outcomes).
• Design data products that are AI-ready and leverage ontologies and semantic models
Build metrics-first semantic layers:
• Define canonical metric definitions, dimensions, hierarchies, and calculation rules.
• Ensure metrics are explainable, auditable, and consistently implemented across products and teams.
• Model knowledge in both RDF (RDFS/OWL) for formal semantics and interoperability.
• Property graphs for traversal-heavy use cases and relationship analytics.
Develop and maintain semantic artifacts:
• Concept schemes, entity models, vocabularies, mappings, and documentation.
• Alignment patterns between ontologies, data products, and downstream analytics/AI use cases.
Implement semantic integration patterns:
• Entity identity resolution, entity linking, terminology harmonization, and enrichment workflows.
Partner with platform teams to operationalize semantics in Snowflake:
• Enable semantic access patterns that support analytics and AI applications.
• Contribute to solutions that leverage Snowflake Cortex for semantic enrichment and assisted discovery (within established governance constraints).
Collaborate with governance and architecture stakeholders to embed:
• Versioning, stewardship workflows, quality checks, and change management for semantic assets.
• Guide best practices and mentor engineers/analysts on ontology engineering, graph modeling, and metrics-first design.
Required Qualifications
• 8+ years in semantic engineering, ontology engineering, knowledge graph development, or closely related roles.
• Demonstrated experience in healthcare data domains (payer/provider, clinical, claims, RWE, quality, outcomes, etc.).
• Strong hands-on ontology engineering experience: RDF, RDFS, OWL, SPARQL and/or graph query experience
• Ontology modularization, alignment, and lifecycle management
• Experience with property graph modeling (e.g., Neo4j-style patterns) and translating between RDF and property graph representations when needed.
• Proven delivery of a metrics-first approach:
• Canonical KPIs/metrics definitions, dimensional modeling alignment, semantic consistency across BI and data products.
• Experience working with modern cloud data platforms, especially Snowflake, and exposure to Snowflake Cortex for AI-enabled workflows.
• Strong stakeholder communication skills: able to translate clinical/business intent into precise semantic definitions and usable artifacts.
Preferred Qualifications
• Familiarity with healthcare interoperability and terminology standards (e.g., HL7/FHIR, SNOMED CT, LOINC, ICD-10) and how to map/align them to enterprise semantics.
• Experience with semantic tooling and practices, validation rules, ontology testing, and CI/CD for semantic assets.
• Experience deploying semantic context layers
- Prepare microbiological media, reagents, and test materials required for routine laboratory testing.
- Perform microbiological analyses on raw materials, finished products, environmental monitoring samples, and water systems.
- Practice and maintain strict aseptic techniques and laboratory disinfection procedures per SOPs.
- Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation of laboratory activities in accordance with cGMP and data integrity standards.
- Maintain laboratory records including notebooks, electronic systems, and LIMS documentation.
- Perform quality assurance and laboratory monitoring activities, including:
- Media preparation and qualification
- Environmental and laboratory area monitoring
- Incubator and equipment monitoring
- Instrument calibration and maintenance
- Sterilization and cleaning verification
- Maintain a clean, organized, and inspection-ready laboratory work environment.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, or related life sciences field
- 0–2 years of laboratory experience (internship or academic laboratory experience acceptable)
- Basic understanding of microbiological techniques and scientific principles
- Familiarity with cGMP or regulated laboratory environments preferred
- Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate laboratory documentation
We take pride in providing the highest possible level of service to our clients.
Keller offers a challenging and rewarding business atmosphere to those who value teamwork, integrity, and diversity.
We actively encourage our employees to contribute their diverse strengths to the team.
We recognize the individual needs of our staff while supporting and assisting them to reach their full potential.
Keller is seeking an outgoing, self-motivated, knowledgeable, organized and positive Geotechnical Engineer to join our Rockaway, NJ office.
Responsibilities In this role, you will be intricately involved in all aspects of the Groundwater Control Business for Keller with emphasis on ground freezing and dewatering system design.
The Geotechnical Engineer will be primarily responsible for system design, implementation and technical oversight of on-going projects.
Other responsibilities may include estimating, proposal writing, development, client relations and business development, as applicable.
The Geotechnical Engineer must possess the technical skills and engineering ability to design solutions integral to our work.
Qualifications Minimum bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or similar degree Ideally 5
- 10 years’ relevant experience in geotechnical engineering and / or construction; this can be flexible given the appropriate applicant Ability to assess and design ground freezing and dewatering systems preferred Estimating and proposal writing skillset / experience preferred Computer modelling (Plaxis, Temp W, Modflow or similar programs) experience preferred Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) Excellent communication skills (oral/written) Demonstrated leadership skills Good engineering judgment and decision making skills Able to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight timelines Analytical, detail-oriented, flexible, adaptable, team player Additional Information Salary Range: $120,000
- $160,000 Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors including relevant internal and external experience, knowledge, skills, scope of job, geographical location or other factors permitted by law Benefits: 401(k) + matching Health, Dental, Vision insurance Life insurance Paid time off (PTO) Holiday Pay Keller is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We encourage qualified women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and others to apply.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The R&D Scientist II would be working for a Major Fortune 500 Company and has career growth potential.
R&D Scientist II Highlights: ??? Schedule: Monday???Friday, Day Shift (40 hours/week, 8 hours/day) ??? Pay Range: $38.81???$41.67 hourly R&D Scientist II Responsibilities: ??? Represent the R&D function as an Extended Team member supporting large technology and product development programs ??? Design and execute experiments supporting development, verification, and evidence generation efforts ??? Prepare samples/prototypes for internal and external analysis ??? Develop and execute test protocols; document results with guidance from senior staff ??? Conduct root cause analysis for product development and sustaining engineering activities ??? Support product development work streams including Requirements Management, Design Verification, and Design Transfer ??? Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Manufacturing, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs ??? Contribute to intellectual property growth, including patent applications and invention disclosures ??? Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) ??? Mentor junior team members and foster a collaborative team environment ??? Travel as required (conferences, manufacturing sites, customer visits) R&D Scientist II Qualifications: ??? Bachelor???s degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Materials Science, or related field ??? Minimum 2 years of direct laboratory experience ??? Proficiency with Microsoft Office ??? Regulatory experience in medical device or pharmaceutical industry ??? Materials testing experience (polymers, hydrogels, TCA lab, Environmental Stress Cracking testing) Preferred Qualifications: ??? Master???s or PhD degree ??? Experience with statistical analysis tools ??? Experience handling clinical specimens (especially human blood); bloodborne pathogen training will be provided If you are interested in this R&D Scientist II position, please apply to this posting with Luke H.
at A-Line!
About Chiral Photonics
Chiral Photonics is a fast-growing photonics manufacturing company enabling next-generation optical connectivity. We specialize in high-precision fiber-optic components and assemblies that support advanced data center, AI, and communications infrastructure. As we scale production, we are building strong operational foundations rooted in standard work, quality, and continuous improvement.
Role Overview
The Operations Project Manager sits at the intersection of production planning and project/program management and plays a critical role in translating customer demand, business strategy, and operational capabilities into executable plans.
This role is responsible for:
- Production Forecasting and Capacity Planning (~40%) — Developing and maintaining production forecasts and capacity plans to ensure the organization has the right people, stations, and sequencing in place to meet customer demand.
- Portfolio Project Management (~40%) — Driving execution and alignment across a portfolio of operational, manufacturing, engineering, and business initiatives, ensuring priorities are clearly sequenced, resources are allocated appropriately, and projects progress according to plan.
- Additional Assignments (~20%) — Supporting the Operations and Production Directors with operational initiatives as needed. This may include, but is not limited to, reviewing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) across the product lifecycle, supporting process improvement efforts, and assisting with operational coordination.
This is a highly cross-functional role that partners closely with Production, Process Engineering, R&D, Sales, and Leadership. The ideal candidate is structured, analytical, and detail-oriented, and is comfortable bringing clarity, organization, and strong follow-through to complex operational challenges.
Key Responsibilities
1. Production Forecasting & Planning (~40%)
- Own and maintain production forecasts across standard, custom, and R&D orders.
- Translate demand into capacity and resource plans, including labor, stations/equipment, and shift planning.
- Maintain resource models by station, value stream, and operator.
- Partner with Production, Process and Engineering to assign work, identify bottlenecks, and mitigate risks.
- Track forecast vs. actual performance and improve planning accuracy.
- Support planning in a high-mix, high-volume manufacturing environment with both production and R&D workstreams.
- Support scale decisions, including staffing, cross-training, additional stations, and automation opportunities.
2. Project & Portfolio Management (~40%)
- Manage a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives across manufacturing scale, process improvement, engineering enablement, and operational systems.
- Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and dependencies.
- Drive execution by tracking actions, ensuring follow-through, and escalating risks.
- Help leadership sequence priorities and align resources across operational initiatives.
- Prepare status updates, dashboards, and decision materials.
3. Additional Assignments (~20%)
Support Operations and Production leadership with initiatives that improve execution, standardization, and cross-functional coordination, including:
- Maintaining and improving SOPs and work instructions across the product lifecycle.
- Supporting process improvement initiatives to improve throughput and reduce cycle time.
- Assisting with operational reporting, dashboards, and data analysis.
- Contributing to special projects and operational initiatives as needed.
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations planning and program/project management, or manufacturing operations (startup or scale‑up experience strongly preferred)
- Strong analytical skills with hands‑on experience in:
- Forecasting and capacity planning
- Resource modeling and scenario analysis
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment
- Ability to manage stakeholders at various levels.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in manufacturing, hardware, photonics, semiconductors, or advanced technology environments
- Familiarity with:
- High‑volume / high mix production
- R&D and custom order workflows
- Lean, continuous improvement, or operational excellence frameworks
- Advanced proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets; experience with planning or PM tools is a plus
The Food Scientist II reports directly to the Research & Technical Development Lead and plays a critical role in advancing technical platforms, ingredient research, and process feasibility for snack and confectionery products. This role is responsible for developing scalable scientific solutions that support the company’s innovation pipeline. The position focuses on early-stage formulation science, functionality modeling, and technical risk mitigation prior to commercialization handoff.
The Food Scientist operates within the Technical & Research Team and collaborates closely with the Product Development & Commercialization Team during scale-up and launch readiness phases.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Technical Platform Development
· Support the Research & Technical Development Lead in building and optimizing core technology platforms (e.g., probiotic systems, fiber enriched system, sugar reduction system, hydrocolloid systems, protein enhanced system).
· Conduct ingredient functionality studies to understand structure-function relationships.
· Develop reusable technical frameworks that enable multiple pipeline products.
2. Advanced Formulation Science
· Design and optimize complex formulations for snack and confectionery applications.
· Investigate texture stability, moisture migration, hydrolysis risks, glass transition behavior, and shelf-life quality indicator.
· Conduct structured root cause analysis for technical performance issues.
· Translate scientific findings into scalable formulation strategies.
3. Process Feasibility & Risk Mitigation
· Evaluate processing parameters (e.g., heating time, vacuum, Brix, pH, Aw) to ensure technical robustness.
· Identify potential scalability constraints early in development.
· Support pilot-scale validation and collaborate with commercialization teams as needed.
4. Stability Prediction
· Design preliminary accelerated and real-time stability studies.
· Establish quality benchmarks for texture, moisture, color, and API ingredients.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration
· Partner with Product Development during transition from research to commercialization.
· Provide technical input to embedded analytical and compliance resources.
· Support supplier technical assessments and ingredient validation.
6. Documentation & Technical Governance
· Maintain accurate and complete formulation documentation in designated systems.
· Develop detailed technical reports and risk assessments for internal review.
Qualifications:
· Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field.
· 2–4+ years of experience in snack and/or confectionery and/or gummy and/or bars of R&D.
· Strong knowledge of hydrocolloids, fiber systems, sugar reduction systems, and moisture control mechanisms.
My client is looking for a Senior R&D Project Manager to work onsite in their Parsippany NJ office.
This is an exciting role who will be responsible for the successful execution of product development projects. You will plan, coordinate and lead the execution of activities to ensure that the goals and objectives of the project are accomplished within the prescribed timeframe and funding parameters. This is a technical position and the candidate must have an engineering background in order to manage and contribute to the development of new products. The projects that will be managed include a mix of new product development, product line extensions, and sustaining engineering releases.
Essential Functions
- Must have the ability to implement multiple projects simultaneously outside technical area of expertise.
- Ability to balance electrical, mechanical, and software development issues at the system level
- Lead the execution of assigned product development programs in accordance with established processes and procedures.
- Lead and motivate cross-functional team performance toward the goal of completing projects according to the defined objectives.
- Develop detailed project work plans and schedules.
- Manage product requirements and traceability.
- Lead design review and risk management activities.
- Manage technical partners/ vendors supporting product development activities.
- Effectively utilize problem solving skills and techniques to identify potential issues, assess their impact, and develop and implement mitigation and resolution plans and activities.
- Employ excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills with all levels of personnel and management.
- Prepare and/or manage the preparation of all required project documentation.
- Facilitate and coordinate project team meetings and management presentations as required.
Required/Preferred Education and Experience
- BS degree in Engineering required.
- Advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years managing technical product development.
- Experience with medical device capital equipment development.
- 10+ years of experience as an engineer developing products, preferably in the medical device industry.
- PMP certification desired.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of global standards and regulations for Design Controls, Risk Management, and Electrical Safety for Medical Devices.
- Demonstrated aptitude for successfully managing multiple projects, of varying complexity, within the specified guidelines, timeframes and budgets.
- Demonstrated understanding of electrical, mechanical, and software engineering practices at the system level.
- Experience with Scrum and Agile processes.
- Knowledge of fluid mechanics or past experience with ventilators/aspirators a plus.
The annual salary for this position is $150K-$160K. This position is eligible for an annual bonus in accordance with the company’s bonus plans. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401K, etc.
About Chiral Photonics
Chiral Photonics is a fast-growing photonics manufacturing company enabling next-generation optical connectivity. We specialize in high-precision fiber-optic components and assemblies that support advanced data center, AI, and communications infrastructure. As we scale production, we are building strong operational foundations rooted in standard work, quality, and continuous improvement.
Role Overview
The Production Floor Manager owns the day-to-day execution of manufacturing operations on the production floor. This role is responsible for meeting daily and weekly production goals, ensuring adherence to SOPs and work instructions, maintaining a clean and organized floor, and supporting production teams through hands-on leadership, equipment troubleshooting, and close collaboration with Production Director, Operations, Engineering and R&D teams.
This is a highly visible role critical to scaling output while maintaining Chiral’s high standards for precision, quality, and safety.
Key Responsibilities
Production Execution & Performance
- Lead daily production floor operations, ensuring work is executed according to plan and priorities.
- Own achievement of daily and weekly output targets (e.g., standard orders, batch completion, on-time delivery).
- Track and manage key production metrics such as:
- Units completed per day/week
- WIP levels by process step
- Throughput and cycle time
- Rework and defect trends
- Participate in and lead daily production huddles and weekly planning reviews.
- Ensure every technician has a work order and all parts are ready in advance of their scheduled shift.
- Work closely with Operations Planning Coordinator to review forecasted plans and targets.
Team Management
- Directly manage and support a production team of approximately 10-15 technicians (scaling over time).
- Provide clear daily direction, prioritize work, and rebalance resources as needed to meet goals.
- Coach technicians on standard work, quality expectations, and safe operating practices.
- Support onboarding and training of new production staff in partnership with Operations
- Review timecards for accuracy and completeness
Standard Work, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure strict adherence to SOPs, work instructions, and quality controls across all production activities.
- Enforce discipline around WIP management, including labeling, tracking, storage locations, and FIFO practices.
- Identify deviations from standard work and drive corrective actions.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and audit-ready production floor (5S mindset).
Equipment & Troubleshooting Support
- Act as first-line support for equipment issues and production interruptions.
- Troubleshoot common equipment and process issues alongside technicians.
- Escalate complex issues appropriately and coordinate with Process Engineering and Operations.
- Help minimize downtime and ensure fast recovery to standard operations.
Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Process Engineering to identify bottlenecks, yield issues, and improvement opportunities.
- Contribute ideas and data to drive process optimization, efficiency gains, and defect reduction.
- Support pilot changes, new process introductions, and scaling initiatives on the production floor.
- Provide structured feedback from operators to operations to be triaged for action with process / engineering / R&D.
Safety & Housekeeping
- Promote and enforce a safe working environment at all times.
- Ensure compliance with safety procedures, PPE requirements, and cleanliness standards.
- Address safety or housekeeping issues immediately and proactively.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience supervising or leading manufacturing operations (precision manufacturing, photonics, optics, electronics, or similar preferred).
- Strong understanding of production workflows, SOP-driven environments, and WIP control.
- Hands-on leadership style with the ability to work directly on the floor.
- Experience supporting equipment troubleshooting and process adherence.
- Strong communication skills and comfort working cross-functionally with engineering and operations.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in fiber-optic, photonics, semiconductor, medical device, or other high-precision manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience scaling production from low-volume to higher-volume operations.
