This executive leadership role is responsible for the operational execution and scaling of a rapidly growing aerospace and defense company that delivers advanced air systems at production scale. The Chief Operating Officer will translate strategic and financial objectives into disciplined operational execution across manufacturing, supply chain, inventory and material handling, quality, facilities, and related operating functions. This is a hands-on role that requires establishing scalable operating systems, developing leaders, and working directly with production teams to solve immediate execution challenges.
Responsibilities
Lead the manufacturing and operating organization, including manufacturing, supply chain, inventory and material handling, quality, and facilities, with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity
Translate revenue, program, and customer commitments into executable production, staffing, capacity, and capital plans
Establish a rigorous operating cadence with clear KPIs, ownership, escalation paths, and corrective actions
Drive predictable execution against weekly, monthly, and annual production commitments
Develop capacity and operational plans capable of supporting significant year-over-year growth across multiple programs and facilities
Maintain strong visibility to constraints, risks, and resource requirements and ensure critical issues are addressed with urgency
Coordinate with customers, where appropriate, to align operational systems, planning processes, and demand signals to support effective production planning and execution
Build scalable manufacturing systems appropriate for high-rate aerospace composite production and air-system integration
Improve throughput, takt time, labor efficiency, yield, first-pass quality, schedule adherence, and overall equipment effectiveness
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using practical Lean, Six Sigma, root-cause, and data-driven problem-solving methodologies
Ensure production organizations effectively transition from prototype and new-product introduction into stable, repeatable rate production
Develop standardized processes and operating discipline while preserving the speed and entrepreneurial culture that have enabled growth
Partner with Engineering, Programs, and Systems leadership to ensure effective DFM, NPI, production readiness, and program ramp
Strengthen quality ownership throughout operations, emphasizing prevention and process control rather than downstream inspection and rework
Oversee supply chain, purchasing, inventory, material handling, production planning, and material-management disciplines necessary to support high-rate production
Millions of jobs, with real people getting hired every day
200,000+
New jobs added daily
7,000,000+
Verified job listings
1,000,000+
Tailored applications submitted
Lead manufacturing footprint, equipment, facilities, and capital planning to ensure capacity is available ahead of customer demand
Support implementation and adoption of enterprise systems, including ERP, production planning, inventory management, performance management, and operational reporting
Build and develop an operations leadership organization capable of supporting a substantially larger enterprise
Establish clear accountability throughout the organization, from executive leadership through production supervision and individual work centers
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing operational leaders and technical talent
Create clear roles, decision rights, expectations, and performance standards across operating functions
Foster a culture of extreme ownership, urgency, transparency, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement
Partner closely with the CEO, CFO, and Finance organization, VP of Operations, VP of Technology, VP of Programs, VP of Systems, and other executives on company strategy, financial performance, budgeting and forecasting, resource allocation, customer commitments, capital investment, and organizational development
Requirements
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, automotive, or another complex production environment
Significant executive or senior operational leadership experience within a rapidly scaling manufacturing organization (300% year over year)
Demonstrated success increasing production rates while simultaneously improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance
Strong experience with manufacturing operations, supply chain, inventory and material management, production planning, quality systems, capital planning, and organizational development
Experience building operational infrastructure for significant growth rather than simply managing an established operating system
Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root-cause corrective action, and production metrics
Experience operating within AS9100 and NADCAP-accredited or similarly rigorous aerospace manufacturing environments strongly preferred
Aerospace composites, UAS, defense systems, aircraft production, or systems-integration experience is highly desirable
Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, or related discipline required
Advanced degree preferred
Benefits
20 - 50% bonus targets
401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Parental leave
Referral program
Relocation assistance
Vision insurance
Important Details
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
About the Company
We are an aerospace and defense company focused on enabling affordable mass through high-rate production. We partner with customers to industrialize and scale advanced airframe and vehicle solutions by combining innovative materials and manufacturing methods, production-focused engineering, and disciplined execution. Our work spans advanced composite structures, UAS airframes, defense systems, and vehicle integration, with an emphasis on reducing cost, compressing takt time, minimizing capital requirements, and creating production systems built to scale.
W3Global is a leading provider of end-to-end consulting services, empowering businesses to achieve their strategic goals and optimize their operations.
