Manufacturing Manager - (WMM092226)

Watring Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Manager to join our team in Huntsville, AL. This is an exciting opportunity to build and lead a manufacturing organization that takes defense and aerospace hardware from prototype through rate production.

Watring Technologies, Inc. is a Huntsville, Alabama, technology-based design and manufacturing company specializing in custom hardware and turnkey solutions. Founded in 1997, Watring Technologies' primary support is in Aerospace and Defense. Their capabilities include hardware integration, testing, and product development.

The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Watring's manufacturing facility, including a precision machine shop, a wire harness and cable assembly room, and the assembly areas supporting prototype development and production of defense and aerospace hardware. This role owns the transition of hardware from engineering prototype to repeatable rate production.

Key Duties:

• Manufacturing Execution: Own daily machining and manufacturing operations, ensuring parts are produced safely, correctly, on schedule, and within planned cos
• People Leadership: Lead, develop, schedule, and hold machinists and manufacturing personnel accountable for performance, attendance, workmanship, and productivity. 
• Production Planning: Translate program requirements into daily and weekly production priorities; coordinate labor, machines, tooling, materials, and outside processes. 
• Quality: Establish a strong first-time-quality culture. Reduce scrap, rework, defects, and escapes; ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained. 
• Schedule & Delivery: Own manufacturing commitments and identify risks early. Develop recovery plans when cost, quality, or schedule begins to deviate. 
• Equipment & Tooling: Ensure machines, tooling, fixtures, and supporting equipment are available, maintained, calibrated where required, and ready for production. 
• Capacity Management: Understand machine and labor capacity, identify bottlenecks, and recommend equipment, staffing, tooling, or process investments necessary to meet current and future demand. 
• Process Improvement: Drive improved workflow, setup times, machine utilization, standard work, housekeeping/5S, and overall manufacturing efficiency. 
• Safety & Compliance: Maintain a safe, disciplined manufacturing environment and ensure compliance with company, customer, security, and regulatory requirements. 
• Program Coordination: Work closely with Program Management, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure manufacturability and successful program execution. 
• New Work Transition: Support estimating and planning for new opportunities by identifying manufacturing approach, labor hours, equipment, tooling, floor space, and production risks. 
• Performance Metrics: Establish and report a small set of meaningful manufacturing KPIs—on-time delivery, first-pass yield/quality, scrap and rework, machine utilization, schedule performance, and labor efficiency.

Required Skills, Experience, and Education:

• Due to facility security requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for consideration at this time.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance in a reasonable timeframe.
• 2 or more years of experience supervising or leading manufacturing personnel, including work assignment and training.
• Hands-on machine shop experience, including manual and CNC machining, tooling and fixturing, and setup.
• Experience producing tight-tolerance machined parts for aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, models, and specifications, including GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Experience creating and maintaining manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, routings, travelers, and inspection records.
• Experience taking hardware from prototype or low-volume build into higher-volume or repeatable production.
• Working knowledge of quality system requirements, including first article inspection, nonconformance and corrective action, and material traceability.
• Adaptability to changing priorities, shifting demands, and unexpected challenges.
• Willingness to work occasional overtime.
• Ability to work on the shop floor, including standing for extended periods and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• One of the following combinations of education and experience:
  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related Engineering discipline from an accredited university, plus 5 or more years of manufacturing experience; or
  • Associate degree or completed technical/trade program in a manufacturing discipline, plus 7 or more years of progressively responsible manufacturing experience; or
  • 9 or more years of progressively responsible hands-on manufacturing experience in lieu of a degree.

Desired Skills, Experience, and Education:

• Active Secret Clearance.
• Experience in a facility manufacturing energetic, ordnance, or other hazardous-material hardware, including applicable safety, storage, and handling requirements.
• Experience standing up a new production line, work cell, or manufacturing capability.
• Wire harness and cable assembly experience, including familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Proficiency in SolidCAM or comparable CAM software.
• CNC programming and operation experience (mill and lathe).
• Experience with additive manufacturing.
• Experience with welding, sheet metal fabrication, or finishing processes.
• Experience with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems, including participation in audits.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems for production planning, inventory, and shop floor control.
• Lean manufacturing, 5S, or Six Sigma training or certification.
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR export control requirements in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting proposals or estimates with manufacturing labor, tooling, and capital inputs.

Business Profile:

Watring Technologies, Inc. (WTI) is an experienced, diversified high technology company proficient in total system integration services, test, custom design, and the manufacturing of process automated hardware. We give customers access to a sole-source, multi-disciplinary staff of specialists offering turn-key solutions. Watring Technologies, Inc. combines state-of-the-art technologies with innovative applications to solve unique problems. We will enhance or complement your industry, giving you a competitive edge with reduced costs and improved productivity. We take great pride in our corporate offerings and the way we conduct business. WTI is dedicated to customer success and satisfaction. Watring Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.